Technologies

Scam Texts Cost Consumers $330 Million in 2022, FTC Says

Careful before you open that SMS. The Federal Trade Commission says scams spread by text on are the rise.

Scams spread by text messages accounted for $330 million in reported US consumer losses last year, according to a Federal Trade Commission report released Thursday.

That’s more than double the losses of the year before and marks a fivefold increase since 2019, the FTC says. It added that text scam reports started spiking during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic and haven’t fallen back to their previous levels since.

Cybersecurity researchers say they’ve also noticed a rise in these kinds of scams. Dubbed smishing, a contraction of SMS and phishing, some texts are clearly spammy. They tout obvious bait such as energy-boosting supplements, cash prizes from major retailers or CBD gummies in new flavors. Some are more subtle, masquerading as COVID test results, shipping notifications or alerts for online payments that didn’t go through. Either way, they’re dangerous.

The vast majority of phishing attacks — attempts to grab personal data from unsuspecting consumers — still come by way of email. Cybercriminals, however, are increasingly taking advantage of distracted consumers who are rarely without their smartphones to bilk people out of their logins and passwords, credit card or other financial information, or even access to their corporate networks.

As part of its study of the 2022 reports, the FTC also analyzed a random sample of 1,000 scam text messages and found that many of them attempted to impersonate well-known businesses.

Specifically, the most common type of scam text were those made to look like fraud alerts from well-known banks. The texts create a sense of urgency, telling the recipient they need to verify a large transaction by tapping on an included tiny link. Those who do respond are connected to fake bank workers.

The use of fake-bank texts has jumped twentyfold since 2019, the FTC says.

Other text scams often reported to the FTC include messages claiming to offer a free gift, often from a wireless phone carrier or retailer, messages pretending to be from UPS or FedEx saying there’s a problem with a package delivery, along with bogus job offers and fake Amazon security alerts.

Tips on avoiding SMS scam messages

Be on the lookout for suspicious messages. Don’t click the links inside a suspicious text or otherwise engage the sender. Instead, report the message by forwarding it to 7726 (SPAM). If you think a link might be legitimate, go directly to the company’s website instead of clicking on the included link.

Don’t mess with the scammers. Some people like to mess with the people behind the scams by texting them back and leading them on. This is a very bad idea. If nothing else, it lets the scammer know that you’re a real person. But don’t worry if you open up a scam text on your phone. Unless you click on a link or download an attachment, you’re not in danger of being hacked.

Think before you hand over your number. Retailers and other companies love to collect them, but do they really need yours? Like your email addresses, if your phone number is in a company database that gets hacked, it’ll likely end up sold to cybercriminals for use in these kinds of attacks. Just like the rest of your personal information, the fewer people who have it, the better.

Keep your private info private. Never provide personal or financial information in response to an SMS request.

Technologies

Target Is Latest Chain to Warn of Price Hikes Amid Tariff Uncertainty

Technologies

Google Beam Futuristic AI-Powered 3D Video Chats Are Coming This Year

Google Beam uses an AI model that turns video calls into a lifelike 3D experience. It could be the next best thing to being there.

Beam me up, Google. Video chats could have a much more sci-fi feel with Google Beam, an AI-powered video communications platform that aims to make it feel like you’re meeting up in person.

Google announced Beam, an evolution of its Google Starline technology, at its annual I/O developer conference on Tuesday. Google has teamed up with HP to commercialize the system.

Read more: Google I/O 2025 Live Blog

Google Beam uses a six-camera array that captures the subject from different angles. An AI video model puts the views together in real time to create a 3D person. Google says the system features near-perfect head tracking, down to the millimeter, with video at 60 frames per second.

The idea is reminiscent of any number of holographic communications systems seen in everything from Star Wars to Star Trek. Unlike the tiny, low-quality Princess Leia hologram from A New Hope, Beam is designed to be life-sized and lifelike. Google once described the technology as a «magic window.»

The platform uses a light field display that doesn’t require wearing any special equipment. CNET’s Abrar Al-Heeti tried out Starline last year and called it «the closest thing to a hologram I’ve ever seen.»

Speech translation, a feature Google is bringing to Google Meet, could come to Beam as well, Google said.

Google introduced Starline as a research project in 2021 and has been testing and refining prototypes ever since. Today’s announcement means the technology is closing in on being ready for prime time.

Video calls have long been plagued with challenges. It can be hard to read expressions and gestures. Traditional video chats are missing a sense of eye contact. Zoom fatigue was a hot topic during the height of COVID-19. Beam wants to address those issues with a more immersive and lifelike experience.

Google said HP will share more about the platform at the InfoComm audio visual technology exhibition in June. Google is also working with Zoom and other audio visual companies. Beam will likely find its footing first with larger organizations that want to shake up the way they handle videoconferencing.

The first Beam devices will be available for early adopters later in 2025, so start practicing your «Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.»

Beam isn’t Google’s only big announcement of the day. Check out everything that’s been revealed at Google I/O.

Technologies

Samsung Reportedly Wants OLED Screens on Switch 2 Refresh

One of the major complaints about the Switch 2 might be addressed in the future.

When Nintendo revealed the Switch 2 on April 2, there was a lot of excitement over the powered-up portable console. However, some gamers weren’t thrilled about its LCD screen. But, like the original, it appears there might be a Switch 2 with a better display in the works.

Samsung is the display maker for the Switch 2 and is reportedly pushing for a version of Nintendo’s new console to come with an OLED screen, according to a report from Bloomberg on Tuesday. No specifics were provided on whether this variant of the Switch 2 would come out or if Nintendo was committed to it.

Nintendo and Samsung didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Switch 2 is only weeks away from launching on June 5. The new console has some significant upgrades over the original Switch, including the larger 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, a custom Nvidia processor that outputs graphics better than a PS4 but less than a PS5 and 4K video with a max frame rate of 120fps.

There have been, however, some concerns over the Switch 2. The big one is its price. At $450, the Switch 2 would be Nintendo’s most expensive console. Coupled with that is the fact that the system will also have its first regularly priced $80 game with Mario Kart World. While the big price tag of the Switch 2 makes sense, considering its components, Nintendo has yet to provide an explanation of why it needs to sell a game for $80, which is $10 more than the typical price of new AAA games.

Nintendo released its Switch OLED in 2021, four years after the console’s launch. It was $50 more expensive than the original, had a slightly bigger screen and made some other small design adjustments, such as a better kickstand.

If Nintendo does release a Switch 2 with OLED sometime in the future, the cost of this new console could be more than just an additional $50. The same day the Switch 2 was announced, President Donald Trump released a list of tariffs for US trade partners. Nintendo’s home country, Japan, and the two countries that produce Nintendo’s products — China and Vietnam — were subject to large tariffs. This led Nintendo to delay preorders in the US.

Since then, Trump has instituted tariff freezes, and Switch 2 preorders were made available for US gamers. However, there is some uncertainty over whether the Switch 2 will stay at its $450 price or see an increase due to tariffs. Microsoft has already increased the price of its Xbox Series consoles, and it appears that Sony might do the same soon.