Let’s be real: who wants to admit they’ve been scammed on Easter? Not me! But after writing scam tips since 2012, I can't let a little thing like a major holiday get in the way, so ’m here to ring the alarm on what might just be the ultimate marketing con: the Great Easter Bunny scam. Seriously—who else could get us to fork over our hard-earned cash for chocolate eggs, all … [Read more...] about The Great Easter Bunny Scam: A PR Masterclass
Scrivenings
Tips to Avoid a QR Code Scam
QR codes are now part of everyday life. We see them everywhere from restaurant tables to parking meters, medical offices to mailers that arrive at our homes. The good news is, they're convenient — just point your phone’s camera at that little square and you’re instantly taken where you need to go. The bad news, a QR code scam is easy to pull off. The thing is, once you … [Read more...] about Tips to Avoid a QR Code Scam
Three Scam Killer Rules to Stop Scams Cold
I’ve written a monthly tip on how to avoid scams for over a decade. During that time, I've seen new tricks appear almost constantly—fake delivery notices, urgent bank calls, medical benefits that sound just believable enough.But here’s the truth: You don’t need to memorize every scam to stay safe.Scams change. Human behavior doesn’t. When I started writing about … [Read more...] about Three Scam Killer Rules to Stop Scams Cold
Urgent Fraud Alerts and the Account Takeover Scam
Last year was a banner year for scammers. In November 2025, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) reported that Account Takeover fraud has caused more than $262 million in losses since the start of the year. If you haven't heard about the Acount Takeover scam, be aware that it's a clever trick to get into your bank or other accounts. This includes commercial accounts … [Read more...] about Urgent Fraud Alerts and the Account Takeover Scam
Oh, Little Christmas Town — almost
I'll admit, when I discovered the United States has not one, but three places actually named Christmas, I got excited. Visions of charming main streets dusted with snow, twinkling lights strung between Victorian lampposts, maybe a cozy café serving hot cocoa danced through my head. A real-life Christmas town! I was in Christmas-fantasy heaven. Reality check: one's a swamp, … [Read more...] about Oh, Little Christmas Town — almost