Author: Bastion
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How a “Wrong Number” Text Cost a Widower His Life Savings
Larry Sorenson thought he’d found something close to happiness again. After losing his wife of 35 years to cancer, he spent his days in a quiet Brentwood neighborhood, surrounded by reminders of the life they built together — the tile they chose, the pool they designed, the garden they imagined. He still talks about her…
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How One Inheritance Scam Triggered a Fatal Spiral
In September 2023, 51-year-old North Dakota resident Steven Riley went to an airport believing he was about to change his life. For months, someone claiming to be a lawyer overseas had been emailing him about an enormous inheritance — more than $30 million — from a distant relative. All he needed to do was meet…
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How Fake Trading Wins Are Being Used to Scam a New Generation of Investors
Every few days, a post goes viral on Reddit claiming something like: “I turned my savings into seven figures trading options.” The story follows a familiar script — a humble backstory, a comeback arc, and a screenshot of a brokerage account that supposedly proves it. Thousands of readers comment, most saying the same thing: Teach…
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How AI Video Tools Like Sora Are Fueling the Next Wave of Scams
For most of internet history, the rule was simple: “Pics or it didn’t happen.” Then came Photoshop, and that confidence cracked. Now, with OpenAI’s Sora and other AI video generators like Meta’s Vibe and Google’s Veo 3, even the videos you watch can’t be trusted. We’ve officially entered the era of visual lies—and it’s about…
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The Retirement Scam That Cost One Man $300,000—And Why the System Keeps Failing People Like Him
You’re 70 years old. Inflation is rising, your grandkids need care, and you’re thinking about how to stretch your retirement savings just a little further—maybe grow the nest egg, maybe leave something behind. So you do what so many people do: You research online. You talk to friends. You find a seemingly legitimate investment opportunity.…
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Why You Should Be Skeptical of Financial Influencers
There’s a joke floating around on finance Twitter: “Never take money advice from someone who makes their money giving money advice.” It’s funny—until you realize how many people are actually doing it.
