I just watched that YouTube video. Fascinating!!
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I get an occasional random text that says little more than “hello”. I ignore it. Got one that seemed auto generated, wanting to talk about an opportunity. Delete. But jsut the other day DH had to send a form to someone and found the form on some guru docs that has turned out to be a scam as they are charging a $49 “subscription”. It’s pending on the cr card and I will question the charge, but ugh. He tried to cancel on their website but couldn’t find a way, and called the # only to get a voicemail (he left a message). I looked on line and there are lots of warnings about this company. UGH
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There was a scam here over 4th of July weekend. There is an upscale shopping area that hosts an art show that weekend and has for years. Someone put QR code stickers on the city parking kiosks, and when you scanned and paid for parking, it was charging $50 to an account in the Dominican Republic. Some people got text alerts from their credit cards but many people did not. If you didn’t scan and pay, you could get a parking ticket either in a lot or on the street.
I really try not to scan anything on the street, but it’s hard when it is the city that is the co-victim of the scam.
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I went to a show in San Diego, and the parking lot had a QR code on a pole as well as a kiosk. The line for the kiosk was long, so people started scanning. Not me, I honestly don’t know how. A pedestrian shouted out, “I wouldn’t, it’s probably not official!” A few still did, and I often wonder if they were scammed. 
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Like a prior poster, I received a UPS text notice claiming that my expected package was out for delivery on Monday, but they could not reach me for the required signature. If I was not available Thursday, it would be returned to sender. To reschedule just use the attached link. I was in fact expecting a delivery from Costco on Monday, but I was also home (and available by phone) all day. There was no mention of Costco, any order number, and packages to this address typically do not require signatures. So, I became suspicious.
Fortunately, I would not be home Thursday, so called Costco instead of replying to the link, and described the situation. Costco then contacted UPS, and told me the package was out for first delivery on Wednesday (not the claimed Monday). They would try again Thursday, and Friday. It WAS delivered on Thursday and no signature required.
Was it a real UPS notice? Was the link legitimate? Per the Costco call, it was not. But if not, it was an unnerving timing coincidence.
I found this warning online later (per A.I. ) “No, UPS does not typically send text messages to reschedule deliveries unless you’ve specifically signed up for their UPS My Choice service. Many text messages claiming to be from UPS are actually scams designed to steal your information or infect your device with malware.“
Very very few of the things delivered to me require signature—even $3000+ Rx! I’m getting increasingly suspicious of texts that want you to click any link.
I’ve been getting lots of ads for a blood sugar monitor on FB ‘suggested’ by the American Diabetes Assoc. I’m reluctant to buy anything off of facebook, even if it is ‘hundreds’ of dollars less, but I’d really like one if they work.
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This is a new one—got a call today asking in I ever thought of writing a memoir?? The caller could put me in touch with ghost writers??
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I’ve been getting that in my email. I guess they can look up corporations, because they address me by name. Annoying. I’m getting at least one every day to my business email. It hasn’t been susceptible to spam before now.
Oh yes. To get as much personal information as possible to take on your identity.
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If you’re asking about a CGM and you’re not diabetic then there are two brands available over-the-counter (also directly from the manufacturer). Buy one of those.
The Stelo is the only one that works with Android or iPhones, the Abbott Libre only works with an iPhone.
No, this is non-invasive monitor that you stick your finger in and it takes blood sugar, blood pressure, pulse, and O2 without a blood poke. I am a diabetic but don’t take insulin so don’t have to wear a CGM. Might be ‘too good to be true’ but it says it is a 'American Diabetes Association product, but when I go to the ADA site, it only lists cookbooks (but also doesn’t sell all the other monitors you can find on Amazon or my OTC healthcare catalog.
My latest is your license will be suspended for unpaid traffic tickets. Respond immediately to a state dmv where I haven’t lived in 8 years and the phone number is out of the country.
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Both H and I got this the past week.
I also started getting the “we want to hire you” texts. The latest was “we saw your resume, please respond”. Um nope!
I was responding, “So what’s my name and profession?” but now I just block and delete.
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Definitely not. No such devices are FDA approved, nor is the unapproved tech even close to reliable. It’s especially important that a diabetic test blood sugar directly. Don’t trust anything that doesn’t break the skin (as a CGM or finger poke does).
Finger cuff plethysmography for measuring BP does exist but I’d question the accuracy of whatever all-in-one gadget is being sold. I’d want to see data from an unbiased reviewer before I’d trust those BP readings. The home BP arm cuffs are really nice and you’d only want a device squeezing you when you tell it to anyway, so I don’t see an advantage to a finger cuff.
Pulse and O2 no problem, my cheapo pulse oximeter does that.
For now, stick with a pulse ox (or smartwatch), an FDA-approved blood glucose device, and a decent BP arm cuff (such as those made by Omron).
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This sounds like a medical device. The FDA should have had a say in whether it is fit for the purpose or not. I’d check the FDA databases. If it is not listed there, I’d stir clear.
This was a bit unnerving: I sometimes use an alias (name, phone #, address) for commercial websites that restrict webpage access without signing in first. Usually, I just want to research information - and am not yet interested in a purchase, so definitely not ready to be added to any more mailing lists.
A few days ago, I received snail mail using the alias name - but my correct address! It was a solicitation from an unknown service (that I’ve never contacted). So how did they merge the alias name with the correct address?
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Based on your computer’s IP (Internet) address.
Google, Meta and Amazon (among others) track your shopping and browsing activity across websites and build a detailed user profile tied to your IP address. Your profile likely has your mailing address if you entered it on one of the tracked sites.