All tech. No filler.
Join 900,000+ people who stay ahead of the tech curve with The Current, delivered daily. No fluff, no BS.
Time for a little game I used to have on the show: Brand New or Not True.
You can freeze your credit. Change your password. Replace a stolen phone. But there’s one thing you can’t ever change: your DNA.
Freak out your friends and family with fun April Fools tech tricks.
Breaking news and tips
Tax scams 2025: Tricks, tactics and how to stay safe
The phone rings, and it’s an agent from your local IRS office with bad news. Someone filed in your name. But don’t worry, they can help you sort it out in just a few minutes. Now, what’s your Social Security number?
You read my newsletters, so hopefully you read that and thought, “Nope, it’s a scam.” It sure is, and it’s one of the tactics savvy criminals use to fool people into handing over incredibly valuable information.
It happens every year, but advances in tech — like AI voice changers that make someone across the world sound like a guy from your hometown — make these tricks harder and harder to spot. Here’s what you need to know right now.
I find the IRS taxing
Falling for a tax scam could cost you more than just your refund. Here are the most common ways they start:
- Fake communications: It could be an email, text or even social media message. The IRS doesn’t initiate contact about a bill or tax refund that way, and they’ll never ask you to send financial information via text or email.
- Fake “helpers”: If a friendly stranger offers to help you set up an online account at IRS.gov or get your refund faster, they’re scamming you.
- Fake tax preparers: If a tax preparer is unwilling to sign your tax return, they’re breaking the law. Check your preparer’s credentials here.
- Fake tax advice: If someone encourages you to file false tax credits, claim false wages or otherwise lie on your return, it’s not a “smart” hack. That’s illegal. This junk is all over social media.
- Fake charities: You donate to a charity you think is real, but your money and details go to a scammer. And your charitable tax deduction? It won’t count.
Protect yourself
OK, now that you know how they weasel in, let’s talk about how you can keep yourself safe.
Get an Identity Protection PIN: An IP PIN is a six-digit number that replaces your SSN or ITIN on your tax return. Getting one is an extra step every year, but it’s so worth it. It means no one can file a fraudulent return on your behalf, even if they have your SSN. Victims of identity theft are automatically enrolled in this program. Everyone else can apply online.
Use Direct File if you can: Cut out the middleman and file your taxes directly with Uncle Sam. Check here to see if you qualify. It’s available in 25 states.
File using vetted tax software: For Pete’s sake, please don’t Google “cheapest way to file taxes.” Use software that’s tried, tested and approved by the IRS. The top dogs are TurboTax (30% off) and H&R Block (35% off). Get the version that suits your needs, and don’t forget about your state return!
Quick hits
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
Tire’d of the mess?
🚘 Life is a highway, might as well ride in style.
- This small car vacuum (34% off) sucks up dirt and crumbs in a flash.
- Flat tire? You can pump up anywhere with a portable tire inflator (37% off).
- Got tiny humans in the backseat? Get a travel tray table (20% off) to keep your little passengers entertained.
- Forget the car wash! Just spray and wipe with this car care kit ($35) for a shiny finish.
- Keep your phone handy but safe with a car mount for your iPhone (19% off) or Android (75% off).
🚦 Don’t brake now: Cruise over to my page for even more amazing useful gadgets to upgrade your ride.
We may earn a commission from purchases, but our recommendations are always objective.
The strange and weird things captured on Google Maps
I love Google Maps. It’s one of those everyday tech tools that actually makes life easier. From finding late-night tacos to dodging traffic like a pro, it’s still the gold standard in navigation. (Sorry, Apple Maps, you’re catching up but not quite there yet.)
Hackers can steal your home: With just a forged signature, cybercriminals can take out loans in your name, drain your equity and leave you with the mess. Click here to get a free home title history report, when you sign up using code KIM. You’ll also receive a free 14-day trial of their Million Dollar Triple Lock Protection.
📈 Want to go viral in 2025? Talk about tariffs. With President Trump making it a hot topic, regular folks want to know how it’ll affect their jobs and everyday prices. Just ask comedian Walter Masterson (paywall link). He posted a debate about who really pays tariffs on beans and corn (Spoiler: not foreign governments), and it became his biggest hit with millions of views.
TikTok sale won’t stop the spies
The deadline for TikTok’s new buyer is tomorrow, but Chinese-made drones, vacuums, and cameras quietly continue collecting data.
📦 The flying chain saws are back: Amazon’s drone deliveries have officially resumed in College Station, Texas, and Tolleson, Arizona, after a two-month break. Why? Dust. Yep, good old-fashioned dust was messing with the drones’ altitude sensors. There weren’t any incidents, but Amazon hit pause to be safe and fixed it with a software update.
1 million
New users on ChatGPT every hour since GPT-4o’s new image tool launched. Wow. No wonder Open AI CEO Sam Altman calls the demand “biblical.” The buzz hasn’t been this high since ChatGPT first launched. With 500 million total users and counting, it’s clearer than ever: AI is here to stay. Or people are just obsessed with making cartoon versions of themselves.
Watch Netflix on your TV? You’re now getting access to way more languages for subtitles and dubbing. The TV version used to offer just five to seven options, but it’s been upgraded to show the full list — just like on your phone or browser. So yes, you can finally watch Bridgerton with Spanish dubbing and Korean subtitles if that’s your thing.
Hide your number when you call
Don’t want your name to pop up on Caller ID? Here’s a simple, quick tip.
🚨 50% off alert: My home security pick, SimpliSafe, is having a massive sale. Get all the gear to lock down your home. You’ll sleep better at night.
😱 A coworker poisoned her drink: Imagine feeling sick every time you sip something at your desk. That’s what happened to a woman in Wisconsin. She noticed a strong chemical smell and suspected someone was messing with her drinks, so she set up a hidden camera. Sure enough, she caught a dude at work spiking them with super glue! HR really needs a new category between “verbal warning” and “call the cops over an attempted poisoning.”
ChatGPT can make fake receipts: Yes, like real store or restaurant receipts. From scratch, the math might be off, but if you ask it to recreate an existing one first and tweak the prices of items, it works. What does OpenAI say? They’re not worried, since every image includes a “C2PA metadata” tag showing it was made by AI. Like that’s hard to remove.
Gmail’s getting more secure: Google’s making it way easier for businesses to send encrypted emails. Before, you had to deal with something called S/MIME, which was a pain to set up. Now? Just turn on the Additional encryption option when drafting an email. FYI: It only works within your company, so yes, your boss can finally encrypt that calendar invite you’ll ignore.
Graphic designers, is this the end?
ChatGPT’s new image tool is so good, you don’t need any art skills. Just type what you want and it makes it.
55 years old
The age of an underwater camera trap discovered by a robot submarine at the bottom of a dark Scottish lake. And yes, you guessed right, it was part of a hunt for the Loch Ness Monster. The camera was in such good shape that they actually managed to develop a few photos. Sadly, no Nessie. Just murky water and crushed dreams. What does the Loch Ness monster eat? Fish and ships! 😂
$10,000 an hour
What lawyers might charge in the future, according to the LexisNexis CEO. With AI doing the grunt work like digging up case law and writing summaries, they’ll have more time to focus on the important stuff. Better service, bigger bills. Let’s just hope these lawyers do their due diligence and fact-check the work. In my humble opinion, at $10K an hour, your lawyer should also do your taxes, walk your dog and solve your childhood trauma.
Want to sound smarter? Fix your audio
People judge how smart and likable you are based on your sound quality. Here’s how to level up your mic game for Zoom and beyond.