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☆ Match Group CEO says he has empathy for victims of romance scams but 'things happen in life'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-29 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Romance scams typically targeting baby boomers and older generations are becoming increasingly popular on dating apps and websites, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Just last year, the FBI's Internet Crime Report estimated that Americans lost more than $650 million to romance scams. Bernard Kim, CEO of Match Group, spoke with CBS News on the growing threat of online romance scams carried out by people overseas. Match Group — which owns Match.com and Tinder — is the largest online dating company in the United States. Match Group did not immediately return a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Bernard Kim, Kim, Grady Judd, Judd Organizations: Service, Federal Trade Commission, Business, FTC, Match, CBS News, CBS, Match Group Locations: United States, Polk County, Florida

☆ Scammers stole more than $400,000 from a woman through an elaborate Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes scam: police
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Scammers reportedly tricked a woman into believing she won $3 million, then stole $400,000 from her. AdvertisementScammers in Florida tricked a woman into thinking she won $3 million, then stole $400,000 from her bank account. AdvertisementDuring Friday's press conference, Judd said the scammers targeted an elderly woman with early signs of dementia. They told her she won $3 million in a Publisher's Clearing House sweepstakes, and that she needed to pay them taxes, Judd said. The Federal Trade Commission says the best way to spot a sweepstakes scam is to look at what the party offering the money asks you to do next.

Persons: Scammers, —, Michael Lawrence, Max Richards, Grady Judd, Lawrence, Richards, Judd, Polk Organizations: FTC, Service, Fox, Federal Trade Commission Locations: Florida, Polk County, Polk

☆ Discord banned accounts related to a site that sold messages from more than 620 million users
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Discord banned accounts tied to Spy.Pet, a website known for mining and selling millions of users' messages. Spy.Pet used bots to scrape data from 14,000 servers, affecting nearly 620 million Discord users. Related storiesThe site used bots to scrape users messages and other data from 14,000 Discord servers. AdvertisementIn all, the bots collected data from nearly 620 million Discord users, according to Kotaku. Following the report, Discord announced that it has banned several accounts related to the site after an investigation.

Persons: —, Jason Citron, Citron Organizations: Service, Media, PC Gamer Locations: Spy.Pet

☆ US soldier at Fort Bragg sentenced for running romance scam
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A federal judge sentenced a former Army service member to prison for running a romance scam. Romance scams cost Americans $1.3 billion in 2022. AdvertisementA US soldier will spend more than three years in federal prison for a romance scam in which police say he impersonated military officials. Before his arrest, Frimpong was an active-duty Army service member stationed at Fort Bragg, the department said. "The fact that an Army service member was involved in romance scams while serving as a soldier is appalling."

Persons: —, Sanda G, Frimpong, Kate Kleinert, Kleinart, Tom Tanner, Michael Easley Organizations: Army, Service, Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, Yahoo, Wired, Social Security, Justice Department, Business Locations: Fort, United States, Nigeria

☆ Women in states where abortion is banned rely on TikTok for advice. Now TikTok itself might be banned.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | Katie Balevic | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Young people are relying on TikTok for abortion information amid legal uncertainty in the US. AdvertisementYoung people confused about abortion bans in their state are turning to TikTok for advice. Wildly popular in the United States with 170 million users, TikTok has become a resource for American women trying to navigate the complex and varied laws on abortion. Related storyAs more people turn to social media for information about abortion, more women are sharing their personal experiences on TikTok. AdvertisementMikaela Attu's TikTok video about the day she had an abortion was viewed over 3.5 million times.

Persons: —, TikTok, Merle Hoffman, Hoffman, Rebecca Nall, Jennifer Lincoln, Lincoln, She's, Mikaela, Attu, Sunni, they're Organizations: Service, The New York Times, Michigan, Times Locations: American, United States, New York City, New Jersey, Wyoming, Canada, Attu

☆ Romance scammers are now building trust with AI-generated deepfakes. Here's how to spot them.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It might be because he's a romance scammer called a "Yahoo Boy" who wants to steal your life savings. Once gaining the victims' trust, the scammers use a pretense to solicit money, like the need to pay an emergency medical expense. Last year alone, the FBI's Internet Crime Report estimated that Americans lost more than $650 million to romance scams. Kate Kleinert, a 69-year-old widow, previously told BI that she lost $39,000 to an online romance scam. Over the last two years, the Yahoo Boys started experimenting with deepfake video clips and video calls, according to Wired.

Persons: —, Kate Kleinert, Kleinart, David Maimon, Trina Higgins, Higgins, haven't Organizations: Service, Yahoo, Yahoo Boys, Department of Justice, Business, Federal Trade Commission, Social Security, Wired, Georgia State University, CNN, Nigerian, Prosecutors, Justice Department Locations: Nigeria, Hong Kong, Salt Lake City, Utah

☆ A water tower in Texas suddenly started overflowing. It may be the work of Russian hackers.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russian hackers are suspected of causing a Texas town's water tank to overflow earlier this year. Cybersecurity experts say the likely culprit is Sandworm, a Russian hacking group. AdvertisementIn January, a Texas town's water tank suddenly started overflowing, spewing a torrent of water to the ground below. But it's raising concerns this week, after the cybersecurity firm Mandiant said Wednesday that Russian hackers were likely behind it. Mandiant, which is owned by Google, attributed the attack in Muleshoe, Texas to Sandworm, a Russian hacking group.

Persons: —, Mandiant Organizations: Service, Google, Business Locations: Texas, Russian, Pennsylvania, Muleshoe , Texas, Sandworm

☆ Taylor Swift fans in the UK have been scammed out of $1.2 million, bank says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Katie Balevic | Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

UK Taylor Swift fans have lost over $1.2 million to Eras Tour ticket scams, Lloyds Bank says. Most of the ticket scams targeted 25- 34-year-olds through fake ads on Facebook. AdvertisementIt looks like it's heating up to be a Cruel Summer — at least for Swifties in the United Kingdom seeking Eras Tour tickets. Fans of Taylor Swift have already been scammed out of over $1.2 million trying to purchase concert tickets, mostly through Facebook, according to Lloyds Bank. "For her legion of dedicated Swifties, the excitement is building ahead of Taylor's Eras Tour finally touching down in the UK this summer.

Persons: Taylor Swift, —, Liz Ziegler, Swift, Alma Galvan Organizations: Lloyds Bank, Facebook, Service, Swifties, United, Lloyds, Ticketmaster, Business, San Francisco Better Business, ABC, BBB, Facebook Marketplace, Paypal Goods, Services Locations: United Kingdom, United States

☆ Hack on a Texas water system may be the first of its kind by Russian hacking group
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian hackers caused a Texas town's water tank to overflow in a suspected hack earlier this year. AdvertisementIn January, Russian hackers caused a small Texas town's water tank to overflow in what was a rare but worrying attack on US infrastructure. The Russian hacking group Sandworm is likely responsible for the attack on the water system in Muleshoe, Texas, the cyber-security firm Mandiant said on Wednesday. AdvertisementHackers posted a video to Telegram of themselves manipulating Muleshoe's water system, showing how they overpowered it and reset the controls, according to The Washington Post. Ramon Sanchez, Muleshoe's city manager, told CNN that the city's water tank overflowed for about 30 to 35 minutes.

Persons: —, Mandiant, Sandworm, Ramon Sanchez Organizations: Service, The Washington, Cyber Army, Post, CNN, Authorities, US Department of Justice, The Justice Locations: Texas, Russian, Pennsylvania, Muleshoe , Texas, Russia, American, Iran, Muleshoe's, South Korea, Ukraine

☆ Netflix is shifting strategy away from big-budget action flicks and big-name stars. Here's its new plan.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Dan Lin, Netflix's new film chief, wants to diversify its movie offerings. Dan Lin, the company's new film chief, now wants to change that, according to The New York Times. Netflix's previous film chief, Scott Stuber, left the company in January following clashes with bosses over what kinds of films to produce. AdvertisementLin quickly went to work reorganizing the company's film department, laying off 15 of its 150 film department staff, and reorganizing the department by budget rather than genre, according to the outlet. Lin also "indicated that Netflix is no longer only the home of expensive action flicks featuring big movie stars."

Persons: Dan Lin, —, Mark Wahlberg, Wahlberg, Critics, Robert P, Scott Stuber, Bela Bajaria, Bajaria, Lin Organizations: Service, Netflix, The New York Times, Business, Rotten, Times

☆ Detroit put up a $400,000 Hollywood-style sign that residents think is so ugly they are making diss tracks about it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Detroit spent $400,000 on a new Hollywood-style sign as it hosts the NFL Draft. Detroit views the NFL Draft as a chance to showcase its recovery after years of financial trouble. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. Detroit rapper Gmac Cash asks in his new single, "Detroit Sign." Related storyCash, a local Detroit rapper, has several songs about landmark attractions in the city, usually with a comedic spin.

Persons: —, Gmac Cash, Jessica Parker, Parker, Cash, Jimmy Kimmel, Mike Duggan, Duggan Organizations: Detroit, NFL, Service, Detroit Free Press, Times, Fairmount Sign Company, Free Press, Fairmont, Business Locations: Detroit, TikTok, Moody's, America

☆ The rapid rise and fall of ghost kitchens
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ghost kitchens are restaurants with no storefront and no seating that customers never see and which only do delivery. Several influencers and celebrities have used ghost kitchens to produce their own lines of food, like YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, known online as Mr. AdvertisementAnd as quality issues and late delivery times worsen, some ghost kitchens are starting to see legal challenges. Cracker Barrel also opened its own virtual restaurant using CloudKitchens, another ghost kitchen group, according to Restaurant Business. The company owns three virtual brands, Banda Burrito, The Meltdown, and Burger Den.

Persons: —, Jimmy Donaldson, Burger, Noah Schnapp, It's, TenderFix, Brinker, Kevin Hochman, Donaldson, MrBeast, Travis Kalanick, Kelli Valade Organizations: Service, Business, The New York Times, Kroger, Times, Restaurant Business, Banda, Denny's

☆ TikTok's owner is raking in cash
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, saw a 60% revenue increase in 2023, Bloomberg reported. TikTok has driven ByteDance's recent success, allowing it to break into global e-commerce markets. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementRevenue to ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, grew by about 60% last year, blowing its competition out of the water. That success was powered by "TikTok Shop," which helped ByteDance, a Chinese company, break into international e-commerce markets in the United States and Southeast Asia.

Persons: TikTok, — Organizations: Bloomberg, Service, Business Locations: ByteDance, United States, Southeast Asia

☆ Americans lost over $1 million last year falling for online puppy adoption scams, largely on Facebook Marketplace
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Americans were scammed out of over $1 million in online puppy frauds last year. AdvertisementA shocking number of Americans are falling for online puppy scams. The Better Business Bureau said it received thousands of reports of puppy scams last year, totaling more than $1 million in losses, according to veterinarians.org. AdvertisementThe prevalence of puppy scams online has led to an official crackdown. The Illinois Attorney General's office, for instance, charged one man with 16 different felonies related to an online puppy scam in January.

Persons: —, veterinarians.org, Katherine Smith, Smith, Prosecutors, Kwame Raoul Organizations: FTC, Service, Better Business Bureau, BBB, Facebook, Craigslist, ABC News, Federal Trade Commission, Illinois, Homeland Security Investigations Locations: North Carolina, Yorkshire, Illinois

☆ Former Tesla workers have accused the company of not paying overtime or paid sick leave in a new lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Katie Balevic | Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Former Tesla factory workers filed a proposed class action lawsuit in California on Thursday. Two former workers allege Tesla violated labor laws under California law, Reuters reported. Tesla is also facing a racial discrimination lawsuit and a wrongful death suit. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . Former employees accused the auto company of violating labor laws in a proposed class action lawsuit filed in federal court in California on Thursday, Reuters reported.

Persons: Tesla, — Organizations: Tesla, Reuters, Service, Business Locations: California, Fremont

☆ A sexual health company has sued Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop for copyright infringement, saying the association is 'harmful' to its brand
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Lauren Edmonds | Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewGwyneth Paltrow's wellness and lifestyle brand, Goop, is facing a trademark infringement lawsuit related to a collection of its sexual health products. Good Clean Love Inc. filed its lawsuit against Goop on March 28, according to court documents obtained by Business Insider. Goop then used that trademark with sexual health products, which Good Clean Love described as "the core" of its business, according to the lawsuit. GOOP threatens to foreclose Good Clean Love from expanding into product lines related to its sexual health and wellness products. Related storiesRepresentatives for Good Clean Love and Goop did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

Persons: —, Gwyneth, Goop, Gwyneth Paltrow, Emma McIntyre, Stefanie Keenan, Paltrow, Stefanie Keenan Goop Organizations: Service, Inc, Goop, Business, NBC News Locations: California

☆ A Georgia basic income program is giving Black women $850 a month. They say it helps them pay bills and reduce debt.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An Atlanta area program is giving low-income Black women $850 a month for two years. AdvertisementA Georgia program providing low-income Black women with monthly payments hopes it will help them escape poverty. The Georgia Resilience and Opportunity Fund in Atlanta gives young Black women average payments of $850 a month through its In Her Hands program. AdvertisementBasic income programs for Black women face legal challengesThe In Her Hands program is not the first guaranteed income program targeting Black women. AdvertisementDespite reports of success, basic income programs across the country are often met with resistance from conservatives.

Persons: —, Martin Luther King, Harper, GPR, Hope Wollensack, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, David Chiu Organizations: Service, Georgia Resilience, Opportunity Fund, Atlanta's, Ward, GRO, Georgia Public Radio, Black, Research, San Francisco Mayor London, American Civil Rights, San, Area Locations: Atlanta, San Francisco, Georgia, Francisco

☆ Profit from video games that were turned into movies doubled in 2023. Hollywood wants more.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Hollywood is increasingly adapting video games into movies and TV shows. Video game studios are cautious, fearing adaptations could compromise their intellectual properties. But Hollywood has a backup plan: Video games. Ampere found that Hollywood shifted its focus away from comic books in movies and television shows last year in favor of video game adaptations like "The Last of Us." Video game adaptations typically get a bad rap as schlocky retellings, especially from younger gamers.

Persons: —, Ampere, Mario, Barbie, Paul Dergarabedian, Comscore, Helene Juguet, Lance Reddick —, Black —, Strauss Zelnik, Zelnik Organizations: Hollywood, Service, Wall Street, Ampere, Amazon Prime, Netflix, Mario Bros, Guardians, Marvel, Ubisoft Film, Television, Newsweek, Forbes, Miami, Electronic Gaming Association Locations: London, Austin

☆ A major AT&T data leak posted to the dark web included passcodes, Social Security numbers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

AT&T reset passcodes after a massive customer data leak surfaced on the dark web. The data included names, email addresses, Social Security numbers, and other personal information. AdvertisementAT&T is reaching out to millions of customers after their personal information — including Social Security numbers — surfaced on the dark web. AT&T reset passwords on millions of customer accounts after Techcrunch notified the company on Monday that a massive customer data leak posted to the dark web included passcodes, the outlet reported. The massive data dump, which surfaced this month, appears to be user information from 2019, the company said in a statement.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Business

☆ A robotic police dog named 'Roscoe' created by Boston Dynamics took a bullet and helped avert a fatal shooting, police say
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Massachusetts state police say a suspect shot a Boston Dynamics robot dog during a SWAT standoff. The company said it was the first time one of its robot dogs took a bullet. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . State troopers used three robots developed by Boston Dynamics to flush out a suspect hiding in a residence after shooting at police in Barnstable, Massachusetts earlier this month, state police said. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Roscoe Organizations: Boston Dynamics, Service, State, Business Locations: Massachusetts, Boston, Barnstable , Massachusetts

☆ Republican budget proposal would do away with universal free school lunches
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A 2025 budget proposal backed by 170 House Republicans would nix a universal free school lunch program. Only nine states provide free school lunch to all students right now. The budget aims to reform school lunch subsidies by eliminating the "community eligibility provision" from the federal School Lunch Program. The proposed RSC Budget would eliminate that provision to ensure school lunch provisions go to only "truly needy households," the report says. States with universal free lunch include California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Main, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Vermont.

Persons: nix, —, Kevin Hern of, Hern, Crystal FitzSimons, FitzSimons Organizations: Republicans, Republican, Service, Committee, Representatives, Budget, NYC Food Policy, Hunter College ., DC, Conservative, Food Research, Action Center Locations: NYC, California , Colorado , Illinois , Michigan, Minnesota, Main , Massachusetts, New Mexico, Vermont, Washington, Kevin Hern of Oklahoma

☆ 'Grand Theft Auto 6' production delay might be behind Rockstar Games' return to office mandate
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewBack-to-work mandates at Rockstar Games are prompting concerns that "Grand Theft Auto 6" might get a later release date than expected. In December, Rockstar Games announced that "GTA 6" would come out in 2025. Still, news that a "GTA 6" release date was so far in the future caused stock prices for Take Two to dip as much as 7% in December. Related storiesNow, Kotaku reported that sources close to the game's development say that progress is slowing and the game's release could "slip" into 2026. Some Rockstar employees told Aftermath they learned they would no longer be able to answer Slack messages and use other work communication tools from home.

Persons: —, Jenn Kolbe, Slack Organizations: Service, Rockstar Games, Business, Kotaku, Rockstar, Bloomberg, Employees

☆ Cocoa prices are rising so fast they are outpacing bitcoin — just in time for Easter
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Cocoa prices have nearly doubled in 2024 and are outpacing bitcoin in the last 12 months. Rising cocoa costs may drive up Easter chocolate prices. AdvertisementCocoa prices are so high that parents might wish to use their Easter chocolate as a tax write-off this year. Cocoa prices were already on a steady incline in 2023, but the product has nearly doubled in price so far this year, according to Bloomberg. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers.

Persons: —, Bean Organizations: Hershey, Cadbury, Service, Bloomberg, Business Locations: New York

☆ Iran is selling a drone called 'Gaza' that it says can carry 13 bombs and travel 1,200 miles
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Iran debuted its new "Gaza" drone at an international arms fair in Doha earlier this month. The new drone can fly over 1,200 miles at 35,000 feet and carry 13 precision-guided bombs, Iran says. AdvertisementIran is selling a new drone on the international market that it's calling "Gaza." Iran unveiled the drone at an arms expo in Doha earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported. The "Gaza" drone can carry up to 13 bombs and travel more than 1,200 miles at 35,000 feet, according to the report.

Persons: — Organizations: Service, Street Journal, UN, Business Locations: Iran, Gaza, Doha

☆ Sacramento will soon give low-income Black and Native American families $725 a month, no strings attached
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-17 | by ( Kenneth Niemeyer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The basic income plan is part of a six-step strategy to reduce child poverty in the county. It will offer $725 a month to low-income Black and Native American families. She said the guaranteed income program is just one piece of a six-step plan to eliminate child poverty. Researchers found that on average, program participants said they spent more than half of the cash they received on housing. The basic income pilot will start sending out payments in July 2024 and will distribute the payments for 12 months.

Persons: —, Michelle Callejas, Callejas, Tonaeya Moore Organizations: Service, Sacramento, Supervisors, United Way, Sacramento County, United, Baltimore Young Locations: Sacramento, United States, Baltimore, Maryland, Austin, Sacramento County

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