Good morning! Three things worth your time today:
In today's issue: why AI-built fake online stores are booming ahead of the holidays, a free AI helper already sitting in your Windows 11 taskbar, and why that "your package is delayed" text probably isn't real.
Let's get started.
NEWS
Before You Click "Buy": AI Is Helping Scammers Build Fake Online Stores This Holiday Season
A new report out this week found that fake online stores are multiplying fast as holiday shopping ramps up — and artificial intelligence is a big reason why. The company behind a free scam-checking tool called Scamwise looked at more than 250,000 shopping websites people reported between March and October, and found that reports of fake "holiday-themed" stores have grown five times over in just the last two months. Of the stores Scamwise could confirm were scams, about three out of four were built using AI — which lets a scammer create a slick, professional-looking store, complete with a fake return policy and paid ads on places like Google and Meta (Facebook and Instagram's parent company), in a fraction of the time it used to take.
There's a newer wrinkle, too. Some shopping apps now let an AI assistant complete a purchase for you automatically, using your saved card and address. In one test by independent researchers last year, an AI shopping assistant was pointed at a fake storefront and, in some runs, went ahead and bought a fake product without stopping to ask the person first. The lesson isn't to avoid AI shopping tools — it's to stay in the loop on anything that spends your money.
Takeaway: Before buying from an online store you haven't used before, double-check its real web address, search the store's name along with the word "scam" or "complaint," and pay by credit card rather than debit card, gift card, or wire transfer — a credit card gives you the best chance of getting your money back if something goes wrong.
TRY THIS
Your Windows Computer Already Has a Free AI Helper Built In
If your computer runs Windows 11, you already have a free AI assistant sitting right in your taskbar — you just might not have noticed it. It's called Copilot, and it can save you a trip through confusing menus.
Look for a small colorful icon near the search bar at the bottom of your screen (or press the Windows key and the letter C at the same time) to open it. A chat window will slide out from the right side of your screen. From there, you can type a plain-English request like "turn on dark mode" or "open my settings," and Copilot will either do it for you (it asks permission first) or take you straight there — no more hunting through menus you can't quite remember.
If you're reading something online in the Microsoft Edge browser, Copilot can also summarize the page for you in a few sentences. Turn this on by opening Copilot, clicking the three dots in its top corner, going to Settings, and turning on "Let Copilot in Windows use Microsoft Edge content."
Takeaway: On a Windows 11 computer, click the Copilot icon in your taskbar (or press Windows key + C) and type a plain-English request, like "open my printer settings," instead of digging through menus yourself.
STAYING SAFE
That "Your Package Is Delayed" Text Probably Isn't From the Post Office
Picture this: a text arrives saying your package is delayed, with a tracking number and a link to "fix" it — maybe even a small fee to pay. It looks official. These messages have always been a popular scam, but AI now makes them read more smoothly and look more convincing than ever, which is exactly why postal investigators keep warning people about them.
U.S. Postal Inspector Eric Shen put it plainly: "The Post Office will never text you to tell you your package is running late, and you have to pay extra money for it." His advice is simple — don't click. If you're genuinely expecting a package and want to check on it, go straight to the source: visit usps.com, call, or stop by your local post office in person, rather than tapping any link in a text or email.
One more trick worth knowing: you can sign up for the Postal Service's free "Informed Delivery" program, which emails you each morning with a preview of the mail and packages actually on their way to you. That way, you'll know right away if a "delivery" text doesn't match anything you're really expecting.
Takeaway: Never click a link in a text or email about a "delayed package" — go directly to usps.com or call your local post office instead, and consider signing up for free Informed Delivery so you always know what's really coming.
Until tomorrow,
EZ AI