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Articles by Bob Sullivan
Thanksgiving was stolen from this mom; a taxpayer hacking scandal was revealed
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Flying this holiday? Sitting down will cost you extra
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
One family's story
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
On 9-11, remember the broken hearts
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
'It's the housing, stupid' -- finally, this issue gets election attention
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Inflation? We're living in the golden age of Gotcha Capitalism
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
A company named National Public Data just essentially made your SSN public. Now what?
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Social media hack attack relies on the kindness of friends; I was (almost) a victim
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Family moves into rental, finds out 'landlord' doesn't actually own it. Thanks to smart locks
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Delta's continuing Crowdstrike issue reveals -- fragile tech, and no Plan B, is a recipe for disaster
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Text scams, spam rampaging across smartphones now
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Finally, alarm bells about kids and tech. But it's not just kids and tech
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
They're finding dead bodies outside scam call centers; it's time to sound the alarm on fraud
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Counting on free travel this summer season? Criminals want your rewards points
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Fake unpaid toll texts threaten drivers around U.S.; Uber driver shot after grandparent scam call
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
As job scams soar, a new set of victims emerges -- small businesses
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Is the digital divide actually getting bigger? This office is trying to help
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
The Red Tape Chronicles Ripoffs, cybercrime, corporate misbehavior, 21st century headaches. Digital life is full of Gotchas and booby traps. I help you untangle them. No thanks
Stanford University soon to have an AAAS Department
Africa/Black America Highlights Today (1) For more than a half-century, African and African American studies have been part of the curriculum options offered by Stanford University, in California, one of the United States’s finest universities. That is soon changing for the better, as the university’s Board of Trustees recently approved the creation of a department of African and African American studies that will open in January 2024.
Local View: Don't limit opportunities
In May, the Nebraska Legislature made K-12 education better by finally passing Nebraska’s first school choice program to empower more families, especially lower-income families, to choose the right education for their children. The Opportunity Scholarships Act, a scholarship model proven in 21 other states, will benefit children from Scottsbluff to Omaha and provide more options for those who have few.
Old-fashioned check fraud is back, this time with violent attacks on mail carriers
Everything old is new again. There was a time when my parents taught me to be extremely careful with personal checks -- never to leave open space in the amount fields, lest someone add a zero, for example. Over the past several years, check writing has fallen deeply out of favor. In fact, check writing is down about 80% since 1990, thanks to online banking, automated payments, and so on. So you might think check fraud is down, too. It was, until recently.
Dealing with Twitter's big 2FA downgrade today? Don't make this HUGE mistake
Twitter has followed through with its half-baked plan to turn off two-factor authentication for (millions of?) non-paying users, leaving them half-naked to the vast criminal underground. If that’s you, you’re looking at not-very-good choices right now, but doing nothing might be the worst of all.
Zelle might change long-standing unfair policy on fraud refunds
I’m cautiously excited about this news! Most of your know I’ve been on a Zelle fraud crusade for many years. Still, I hope you’ll read this piece because such a voluntary step — while a great step — is just one step. Meanwhile, this Zelle situation is a symptom of a much larger problem that I plan to start writing about. For now, I’m calling it Too Big to Scale. Feedback, examples welcome. As always, thanks for your support.
Bank data, finally shared with U.S. Senate, shows Zelle fraud is soaring
We finally have some numbers on how much fraud is happening at Zelle. Four large banks -- Truist, PNC, US Bank, and Bank of America -- tell Congressional investigators that consumers report about one-quarter of a billion dollars in fraud and scams on Zelle annually. That doesn't include data from other large banks, like Capital One and JP Morgan Chase. And it doesn't include fraud which goes unreported. The data shows Zelle fraud reports are soaring, doubling within two years at some banks.
Bank execs fall silent when Sen. Warren asks for promise of Zelle consumer protection
From this week's inbox: "My wife was a victim of a Bank of America and Zelle scam, we lost $6,800 and the bank told me that there’s nothing they can do. Is this true? It blows my mind that our money is gone just like that. Is there really nothing we can do?" FINALLY, I thought, in April, when Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) demanded that banks tell the world how much fraud consumers are enduring because of their Zelle instant payment platform.
FTC lawsuit: Walmart stores turn 'blind eye' to wire transfer fraud, enable millions in scams
Walmart employees were trained to "turn a blind eye" when criminals used their money transfer services for fraud, and in some cases, store workers were in on it, claims the Federal Trade Commission in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday. At one point, Walmart's written policy stated, "If you suspect fraud, complete the transaction," the lawsuit says.
NYT takes on Zelle again; lawsuit alleges 'secret' bank policy to deny fraud claims
A class-action lawsuit claims Zelle consumers hit by fraud are up against a "secret" bank policy to deny consumer dispute rights, even when the victimized account holders are entitled to Regulation E protections. Given the details shared in a New York Times story published today, and the pile of examples that land in my email every week, I see where that accusation comes from.
Congress demands answers from Zelle on fraud; demand your fraud dispute rights now
If you are a victim of Zelle fraud, I finally have some good news for you. Two U.S. senators, including Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), are now demanding answers from the instant payment tool. A bright light is finally shining on the terrible crimes that Zelle and its banking partners have enabled.
Make A Retirement Planning Checklist
Retirement planning can inspire a lot of contrasting emotions. There’s the excitement of making travel plans, sleeping in on Mondays and saying goodbye to the boss. And there’s also the fear of outliving your money, boredom or making a huge financial mistake that could lead to a gigantic tax bill. The best way to deal with your retirement fears is to face them head on. The sooner you make a retirement plan, the better.
Forced to Venmo at gunpoint
This phishing-type email is designed to help criminals steal login credentials after they have stolen a smartphone. (From IBM’s SecurityIntelligence.com) A set of armed robbers who terrorized residents near Duke University recently are being called "tech-savvy" after they allegedly demanded their victims Venmo them money and wipe their smartphones -- disabling anti-theft measures -- before stealing the gadgets.
Facebook accused of enabling rampant fraud, claims 'immunity' in court filing
This is the "couch" received by a second-grade teacher after she clicked on a Facebook ad. The firm told her she wasn't eligible for a refund unless she mailed it back to China at her expense. When we talk about Facebook's bad behavior, it's easy to get bogged down in the details. Don't. We should focus more on the outright fraud enabled by its platforms.
Zelle hackers 'improve' their scam, pretending to be fraud investigators; banks often won't help
A sample of recent Zelle headlines .A new rash of Zelle hacks has left consumers with empty banks accounts and little hope for refunds -- but there is hope that federal regulators might finally impose fair rules to protect victims. Anyone who's lost money through Zelle, or who is currently fighting their financial institution over lost funds, should follow the instructions later on in this story. I've been reporting on Zelle crime for several years.
Newest Instagram hack threat: forced 'hostage' videos
A California woman who thought she was helping an old friend pay for a kidney transplant has been caught up in an Instagram hacking scheme with a nightmarish twist -- criminals drained her bank account via Zelle and then forced her to make a hostage-style video endorsing a get-rich-quick scheme in an attempt to get some of it back.
From the Presbyterate
The One Voice magazine will be mailed to all households registered with a parish in the Diocese of Birmingham. Each issue will feature stories of personal witness, Catholic life, theology, culture, and more. Contact your parish today to start receiving the One Voice magazine. Not a member of a parish? Contact the One Voice office at onevoice@bhmdiocese.org or 205-838-8305 to inquire about a subscription.
Get ready for a lot of pop-ups that...you might enjoy
Get used to seeing this pop-up, and millions of others like it: Sometime soon — perhaps this week, perhaps tomorrow — Apple will turn on a simple feature that has the potential to shake up the very business model the Internet is built on: surprise surveillance. To users, it could seem like an endless stream of pop-ups, at least at first. To the technology industry, it might mark the moment a cold war turned into a hot war.
After the 'Sandy Hook of disinformation,' can the Internet be fixed?
INTRODUCTION: As cries of censorship,"de-platforming" and domestic terrorism wash over the Internet, it's time to have a long-postponed conversation about free speech and moderation in the age of the digital megaphone. There are no easy answers. Donald Trump has pushed many Internet-age values to their limit. Duke University’s Phil Napoli has called the events of January 6 the Sandy Hook of the Disinformation Crisis.
The 'de-platforming' of Donald Trump and the future of the Internet
The process of U.S. Capitol police Officer Brian Sicknick past the Capitol on Sunday. This is a deadly serious issue. (My photo) "De-platforming." That's the word of the week in tech-land, and it's about time. After the storming of the U.S. Capitol by a criminal mob on Wednesday, a host of companies have cut off President Trump's digital air supply. His Tweets and Facebook posts fell first; next came second-order effects, like payment processors cutting off the money supply.
FBI warns about election night results hacking chaos; then election software firm says it's been hacked
Don’t believe everything you see The easiest way to hack an election in our media-intense age is not to hack the election itself — but merely to hack the results. Specifically, the appearance of results. Imagine if official government websites were hacked on election night to display vote tallies showing the losing candidate had won. Even if the error were corrected, it’s easy to see the kind of chaos that would ensue.
Dangerous permissions, 'legitimizing surveillance' -- and a personal announcement
Megan DeBlois, who runs Covid19AppTracker.org Please allow me to interrupt this newsletter with a brief announcement It's been seven years since I set out my own shingle as an independent journalist and started my newsletter and website. It's probably been *ahem/cough/ahem* years since I redesigned them. The email you signed up for looks dated and the website had too many ads and pop-ups, I know. I've been busy. But that changes today.
For Older Workers, Getting a New Job Can Be a Gamble
Getting fired for getting old — or never being considered for an opening in the first place — is a problem that's only going to get worse. America's workforce is getting older, and fast. By 2022, about 35 percent of the U.S. labor force will be over 50, according to AARP. That's up from 25 percent in 2002. At the same time, a stubbornly middling economic recovery continues to set old workers against younger ones, and places a target on the back of every experienced, higher-salaried employee.
Call Upon the Angels for Comfort and Defense
As we confront the Coronavirus Pandemic, it is comforting and effective, to ask the angels, including our guardian angel, to come to our defense. Most Christians, Jews, and Muslims, believe in angels, and the Catholic faithful have always believed that each of us have our own personal guardian angel. We also know the specific names of three angels from Scripture, specifically, the Archangels Raphael, Gabriel, and Michael.
NYT's Kashmir Hill, and learning to live with facial recognition
(If you are new here, I am a visiting scholar at Duke University this year and I am hosting occasional email dialogs on important issues of technology, ethics, and privacy called “In Conversation.” Here’s a link to an earlier “In Conversation” about contact tracing apps.) Introduction “Privacy tends to lose when there is a clear public safety use case.” That means firms like Clearview AI, and everything else like it, is here to stay. Now what?
Why Catholics Didn’t Go to Public School “Back Then” And Probably Shouldn’t Now
Catholic schools have been part of the American experience, possibly since 1606, when Franciscans landed with the explorers at St. Augustine, Florida, but not always this country’s public education.And there’s a reason why. Prior to the mid-1800’s, there was no nationwide public education system in the United States. New England had a fairly developed public school system by 1850, but schools in the rest of the country were less developed, and many cities and towns had no public school at all.
Sweetheart romance scams cost victims money, love
If you or someone you care about are looking for love online, be careful: Reports of sweetheart or romance scams are soaring. It starts with an online, long-distance romance. A criminal, posing as an admirer, approaches you through a dating site, or reach out on social media. After they woo you, then comes the “ask.” Can you send money to help them out with a financial emergency?
Shattered! The danger hanging in your bathroom
I had just finished showering and turned off the water. Soaking wet, I did what millions of Americans do every day -- I reached for my snazzy sliding glass shower door. Seconds later, glass was raining down on me. The door had failed somehow and exploded into a million little pieces. The sound was hideous, something between nails on a chalkboard and a torrential downpour. Only this didn't make me wet, it made me bloody.
Are you 'binge working'? The question is deadly serious
More people are living a life marked by energy-drink-fueled all-nighters. A toxic combination of digital leashes, the hypnotic effects of technology, economic anxiety, and caffeine is encouraging workers to push far beyond normal limits in the name of hard work. It’s a costly trend. Consequences range from poor work and long unscheduled absences, to workers paying with their health, and in rare cases, their lives. Take Mita Diran.
With Log In Eye
Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick was ordained a priest in 1958 in the Archdiocese of New York. He was made an auxiliary bishop in 1977 and went on to become bishop of Metuchen, N.J., then archbishop of Newark, N.J., and finally archbishop of Washington D.C. He was made a cardinal in 2001 and retired a few years later. After his retirement, he remained active promoting social justice causes. More on his social justice work in a bit.
Narrowing the Gaps in Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)
What did information technology (IT) and security leaders do when they needed a simple, effective means to manage and secure their mobile devices — and provide secure access to enterprise data? They devised and implemented mobile device management (MDM) and enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions. But modern IT teams are responsible for accommodating a vast range of endpoints and enterprise use cases.
Narrowing the Gaps in Unified Endpoint Management (UEM)
What did information technology (IT) and security leaders do when they needed a simple, effective means to manage and secure their mobile devices — and provide secure access to enterprise data? They devised and implemented mobile device management (MDM) and enterprise mobility management (EMM) solutions. But modern IT teams are responsible for accommodating a vast range of endpoints and enterprise use cases.
Why you should take care when using Zelle to transfer money
Credit cards. Debit cards. Zelle. One of these popular ways to spend money from your bank account is not like the others, and many consumers are finding out the hard way. Zelle is the big banks’ answer to Venmo — a consortium of heavy hitters like Bank of America and Wells Fargo lets account holders send cash to each other almost instantly via smartphones or email. Zelle was a near instant hit: about $75 billion in transactions were made via the service last year, twice Venmo’s volume.
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