A truly marvelous Monday is here, friend! Let’s kick off this week with trivia good enough to share with friends. What’s the most expensive phone number ever sold? Is it … A.) 222‑2222, B.) 555‑5555, C.) 666‑6666 or D.) 8888‑8888? Answer’s at the end!

Please stop texting me. No, not you — political groups. If you’re sick of the onslaught, we put together a quick vid to walk you through stopping them. You’re welcome! On to the news. — Kim

Scams come with the territory when you own a business. Last week, we got one here at the Komando HQ that even I haven’t spotted before. Let’s just say I was equal parts impressed and annoyed. That’s why if you own a business or do anything with money at a company, you need to know this.

‘Fwd: Past due Inv 324476’

That was the subject line. What followed was an email chain between me (using my private company email address) and someone named “Paul Delcroix.” According to his email, we were overdue for paying his invoice, and he wanted that money, like, now.

Reading the email chain, it really looked like “Paul” and I were doing business together. In one email, I told him we needed to have a follow-up call. In another, I asked “Paul” to email our finance director, Amber, because she’d send over the money.

As it turns out, “Paul” had created the entire thread and used that to trick Amber into thinking I’d already approved the invoice.

Now, this scammer knew a lot about us, like my personal email address, Amber’s role at the company and Amber’s email address. They even knew our company’s industry; “Paul” was attempting to charge us for using his “Ethics in Broadcasting” legal materials and representatives.

Luckily, Amber is smart

She’s too smart to just pay an unexpected invoice, even if there seems to be evidence I OK’d it. She forwarded me the email and asked if the bill for $39,540 was legit.

Spot the signs

This is a tricky scam, but it’s far from perfect.

One simple rule of thumb

Now, if you own a business, you’re going to be surprised to hear this: I approve every expense myself. Yes, I’m busy recording my national radio shows, writing this newsletter and running the business — but I’m the closest one to what we spend. I can spot these tricks a mile away.

▶️ The final approval doesn’t always have to come from the business owner, but I recommend you have multiple folks involved in payment processes. No bill should be paid without someone else confirming, “Yes, this is a service we pay for. This bill is real.”

This is more important than ever in the age of deepfakes, when it’s easy for someone to pretend to be a contractor or an employee to take advantage of the person who signs off on payments.

This story, for example, turns my stomach: A scammer pretended to be an engineering firm’s CFO and “wore” that face during a video meeting using deepfake tech. He tricked the employee on the other end into wiring $25 million.

We’re adding a step

What if Amber had taken that email chain as fact and paid the nearly $40,000 bill? We’d never get that money back. I bet a lot of folks would’ve paid it.

▶️ That’s why I think every company should have a payment password, a safe word, a confirmation — call it what you want. Say our word is “tangerines.” The idea is that the person approving the payment and the coworker or company officer asking for the payment both must say this word.

In our engineering firm example, the deepfake worked flawlessly. The employee truly thought they were talking to the CFO. But what if he or she asked for the confirmation step and the guy stared at him blankly? It would’ve all fallen apart.

🤑 Folks, scammers are getting more creative, and I want you to be careful out there. If you own a business or work at a small biz, send this to your staff. It could save you a massive headache.

A burglary happens every 30 seconds in the U.S., and homes without a security system are three times more likely to be targeted. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to an intruder in your home.

Take control of your safety before it’s too late. Plus, right now, you can enjoy 20% off and get a free indoor camera with your purchase!

Why You Need SimpliSafe:

Android alert: Malware called SpyAgent is disguising itself within 280 banking apps and streaming services. This one is smart enough to recognize images and is stealing crypto wallet recovery phrases saved as screenshots. Stay safe: Only download apps from the official Google Play Store and never screenshot your passwords or seed phrases.

🚙 Break my wallet: BMW is going all in on hydrogen-powered cars starting with its 2028 models (paywall link). How it works: Hydrogen fuel cells within the vehicles generate electricity through a chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen. The only emission is water vapor. Sounds sweet, but hydrogen is more expensive than gas, and there are almost no refueling stations in the U.S.

Ram recall: Over 1.4 million Ram 1500 pickups from 2019 and 2021 to 2024 have a bug in the antilock brake system that could lead to crashes. Major red flag: Warning lights for your ABS, ESC, adaptive cruise control and forward collision systems. Call your dealership ASAP for a software update.

🧹 This doesn’t suck: Roborock’s new Qrevo Curv is the closest thing to a vacuum that can handle stairs. Its industry-first auto-lift chassis can raise itself a little over an inch and a half. It’s not climbing steps yet, but it can get over fluffy rugs and bumps. Just one small hiccup — it’s priced around $1,660 in Europe. U.S. prices are still TBD.

Put a ring on it: Single folks are ditching dating apps and social media for hobby apps like Strava (for athletes) and Ravelry (for knitters). These platforms focus on activities, so there’s less pressure and superficiality than apps like Tinder, where looks take center stage. Imagine that … meeting someone through common interests, not just swipes.

🧥 MagSafe for coats: Jony Ive, designer of the iPhone, has invented a new button. His company, LoveFrom, teamed up with luxury brand Moncler to create a down-filled vest that transforms into a field jacket, parka or hooded poncho using magnetized buttons for easy swapping. FYI: It took four years to develop, so it’ll cost more than a few iPhones.

💥 Definitely a dipship: Chinese scientists say they’ve cracked the code for making the world’s fastest submarines. “Laser propellers” create tiny explosions, pushing subs to speeds fast enough to outrun torpedoes or jet aircraft. The downside? All that speed leaves a trail of bubbles and cavitation noise, making the subs easy to track.

Goodies to transform your space without breaking the bank (or requiring expert DIY skills):

You threw away the paper manual: No prob! This site has over 8 million manuals for everything from electronics to appliances. Score.

Trojan horse: If your phone is infected with malware, it’s worth doing a full factory reset. A royal pain in the rear, yes, but it’s the only way to ensure your phone is clear. You also need solid security software for your phone.

🫡 Greetings, colleague: Dreading writing an email for work? Open ChatGPT or your favorite AI chatbot. Give it a headstart by typing who you are, your recipient and what the email needs to communicate. If the first draft is awful, give feedback (e.g., "Make it sound more conversational" or "Be more confident") until it’s ready for your edits.

Like with email, you can mark a text as unread: On iPhone, simply swipe right on a conversation to mark it as unread. On Android, hold down on a conversation, tap the three dots and then tap Mark it as unread.

🖨️ Clever printer hack: Dust can cause unexpected problems with your printer. Open the paper trays, remove any paper and use a handheld vac to suck up the dust. You can also blow it out with compressed air (43% off).

⛽ Tap and go: Use your phone’s electronic wallet app at the gas pump. All you have to do is tap your phone on the reader to pay. This way, you won’t have to worry about card skimmers at the pump stealing from you.

Avocado humor? Pit‑iful …

The answer: C.) 666‑6666. The most expensive phone number sold for $2.7 million in Qatar, where such numbers are seen as status symbols and potential investments.

🤣 I accidentally deleted all my German friends' phone numbers. Now my iPhone is Hans‑free.

If you laughed, you’re my people. If you groaned, you’re still my people. Now, help me out and tell someone in your life about this tech content. You can forward this email, text about my podcast or show, or even just tell ‘em one of my jokes. Let’s get this world tech-smarter together! See you right back here tomorrow with the best tech newsletter in the USA! — Kim