Author: Bastion
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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.
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How Fake Ads for Real Brands Are Flooding Facebook and Instagram
Let’s play a game. Open up Facebook or Instagram right now and scroll for five minutes. Odds are, you’ll see an ad offering an insane deal on a big-name brand—Herman Miller chairs for $129, or Cotopaxi backpacks at 80% off. Maybe the ad looks perfect: real product photos, official logos, even a “store closing” story…
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What to Do If Your Parent Is Being Scammed by an Online Impersonator
Let’s set the scene: Your parent’s phone keeps buzzing. They’re suddenly giddy, texting late at night, maybe dropping names like “George Clooney,” “Keanu Reeves,” or a slightly misspelled K-pop star. And now, you’re hearing phrases like, “He just needs a little help—he’s so down-to-earth!” or “I can’t believe she chose me out of all her…
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Why Feeling “Behind” Makes You Easy Prey for Scams and Bad Investments
We like to think money is about math. Add some here, subtract some there, multiply it by your years in the workforce, and eventually you’ll land at the destination marked “enough.” But money is really about stories. The stories we tell ourselves about where we should be, what we deserve, and—most dangerously—how far behind we…
