The tech trial of the year, Musk v. Altman, was ultimately a fight for control. Elon Musk argued that Sam Altman, with whom he helped found the now-massive company OpenAI, shouldn’t direct the future of AI. Altman’s lawyers, in turn, poked at Musk’s own credibility. A jury came to a verdict on Monday after just two hours of deliberation, dismissing Musk’s claims due to the statute of limitations.
Technology
Amazon job text scam warning signs
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You get a text message. It says Amazon is hiring. The pay sounds great. The work is easy. It feels like a lucky break. Then you read it again. That is when things start to feel off, and you realize it could be a scam. Let’s break down the exact text message scammers are sending and call out every red flag so you know what to watch for next time.
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YOUTUBE JOB SCAM TEXT: HOW TO SPOT IT FAST
A text claiming Amazon is hiring may look convincing at first, but generic wording, unrealistic pay and a missing hiring process are major scam red flags. (Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The biggest red flags in this Amazon job text
Here is what stands out right away in this message.
1) It starts with a generic greeting
The message opens with “Hi” and does not include your name. Legitimate recruiters usually personalize outreach, especially for a job opportunity. A generic greeting suggests this message was sent to many people at once.
2) You did not apply for this job
The message shows up out of nowhere, which should immediately raise concern. In this case, there was no application submitted and no prior contact with a recruiter. Because of that, the outreach feels unexpected and unverified. Legitimate companies do not randomly text people with job offers, especially without any previous interaction.
3) The sender does not match the company
The message comes from a random Hotmail email address, not an official Amazon domain. Real recruiters from Amazon use corporate email accounts tied to Amazon. They do not text you from a generic email or personal number. That alone should stop you in your tracks.
4) The job offer is vague
The role description sounds broad and generic. “Supporting Amazon sellers” and “online tasks” could mean anything. There are no clear responsibilities, no team, no department. Scammers keep things vague on purpose. It helps them reach more people.
5) The pay makes no sense
The message promises $100 to $600 per day for about an hour of work. That is not how legitimate jobs work. When you see high pay for very little effort, that is often bait designed to pull you in fast.
6) The numbers do not add up
It mentions a base pay of $1,000 for every four working days. That conflicts with the daily rate listed earlier. Inconsistent details are a common scam signal. Real job offers are clear and consistent.
7) They push you to respond quickly
The message asks you to text “Interested” to a phone number instead of applying through a formal process. There is no application, no interview and no verification. Because of that, the urgency is intentional and designed to get a fast response before you have time to think it through.
8) The phone number looks unusual or international
The message tells you to text a number like +14482009251. At first glance, it may look like a U.S. number because of the +1 country code. But scammers often use internet-based numbers that can be routed from anywhere. Legitimate recruiters rarely ask you to move a job conversation to a random phone number. If the number feels off, trust that instinct.
9) The age requirement is unusual
It says, “If you are 25 or older.” That is not a standard hiring requirement for most roles. Random restrictions like this are another sign that something is off.
10) No official hiring process
There is no mention of:
- A job listing
- A company’s careers page
- A recruiter profile
- An interview
Legitimate companies follow structured hiring steps. They do not skip straight to texting.
SSA IMPERSONATION SCAMS ARE GETTING MORE PERSONAL
Job scammers are now targeting phones with fake Amazon recruiting texts that promise easy remote work and fast money. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Why this scam works so well
These messages hit a sweet spot for many people. They promise flexible work while also offering remote roles and quick income. As a result, that combination is hard to ignore, especially if you are job hunting. Because of this, scammers design messages that feel like an opportunity rather than a risk.
What this means to you
You are likely to see more messages like this. Job scams have moved from email to text because people respond faster on their phones. That means you need to slow down and question anything that feels too easy or too good. A real opportunity will still be there tomorrow. A scam depends on speed.
We reached out to Amazon about this text message scam, and a spokesperson told us:
“Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk. We will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance. We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe.”
Ways to stay safe from job text scams
Start with a quick gut check. Then take these steps.
1) Verify the company directly
Go to the official website of Amazon and check their careers page. If the job is real, it will be listed there.
2) Do not respond to unknown job texts
Instead, ignore the message completely. Do not text back, click any links or call the number. Even a quick reply can confirm your number is active, which may lead to more scam attempts.
3) Remove your data from broker sites
Scammers often find your number through data broker websites that collect and sell personal information. Using a trusted data removal service can help reduce your exposure by removing your information from hundreds of these sites and lowering the chances of being targeted. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
4) Use strong antivirus protection
If a scam message leads you to a link, your device could be exposed. Strong antivirus software helps block malicious downloads before they cause harm. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
5) Watch for unrealistic pay
High pay for minimal work is one of the biggest warning signs. If it sounds easy, assume there is a catch.
TECH GIANTS UNITE TO FIGHT ONLINE SCAMS
If a text promises Amazon work with high pay for little effort, treat it as suspicious and verify the job through official channels. (Jim Young/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
6) Check the sender carefully
Look at the email or phone number. If it is not tied to the company, treat it as suspicious.
7) Protect your personal information
Never share sensitive details like your Social Security number, banking information or ID through text. Real employers use secure systems, not text messages.
8) Delete and report the message
After you spot the red flags, delete the message right away. In addition, use your phone’s “Report Spam” option to flag it. This helps your carrier and messaging apps identify similar scams and block them for others. Also, Amazon recommends visiting its help pages to find additional information on how to identify scams and report them at amazon.com/ReportAScam.
Kurt’s key takeaways
At first, the message looks polished. It uses a name and references a well-known company while laying out pay and benefits. However, once you slow down, the problems become clear. For example, the greeting is generic, and you never applied. In addition, the sender does not match the company, and the phone number feels off. On top of that, the pay is unrealistic, and the hiring process is missing entirely. This is how most scams work. They depend on speed instead of accuracy.
Have you ever received a job text like this, and what tipped you off that it was a scam? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
In a strictly legal sense, three weeks of testimony added up to nothing. But the trial offered a more damning broader takeaway: Almost nobody in this saga seems worth trusting. Some of the most powerful people in tech seem temperamentally incapable of dealing with each other honestly. And if that’s true, it raises a bigger question: Why are they in control of a trillion-dollar industry that’s set to upend people’s lives?
OpenAI was, in the testimony of both Musk and Altman, founded to stop powerful AI from being owned and advanced by the wrong people. Testimony and evidence showed its founding team fretting about who would control artificial general intelligence (AGI), a buzzword for AI that broadly equals or surpasses human knowledge and ability. They deeply feared Google DeepMind and its leader, Demis Hassabis. In 2015, Altman said he’d been mulling over whether anything could “stop humanity from developing AI” — and after concluding it was impossible, that he wanted “someone other than google to do it first.”
Fellow cofounders Greg Brockman and Ilya Sutskever so strongly opposed one-person control that they seemed willing to torpedo a lucrative deal that could — in their words — give Musk an “AI dictatorship.” In a part of the same email addressed to Altman, Brockman and Sutskever questioned his motivations, writing, “We haven’t been able to fully trust your judgements throughout this process … Is AGI truly your primary motivation? How does it connect to your political goals?”
These concerns would be quickly borne out. A central focus of Musk v. Altman was “the blip,” a five-day period in November 2023 when OpenAI’s board removed Altman as CEO. Sutskever had spent more than a year architecting his ouster, assembling a 52-page memo alleging “a consistent pattern of lying, undermining his execs, and pitting his execs against one another.” The implications were broader than executive infighting, potentially impacting the public rollout of AI systems. Then-CTO Mira Murati, for instance, testified in court that Altman told her OpenAI’s legal team had okayed skipping a safety review for one of its models — a statement, she said, that turned out to be false.
In closing arguments, Musk attorney Steven Molo hammered home the long list of people who had testified under oath that Altman was, in one way or another, a liar — all of whom Altman had worked with for years. “The defendants absolutely need you to believe Sam Altman,” Molo told the jury. “If you cannot trust him, if you don’t believe him, they cannot win. It’s that simple.”
But during court proceedings, Musk — who now leads competing lab xAI, under his space company SpaceX — didn’t come off any better. Joshua Achiam, now OpenAI’s chief futurist, testified that Musk’s race against Google led him to take an “obviously unsafe and reckless” approach to achieving AGI. When he and others raised concerns, he says, Musk argued that OpenAI’s for-profit makeover created incentives to disregard safety, but his own xAI is for-profit and has, at best, a haphazard approach to safety. And in the name of making sure OpenAI remained open, Musk was obsessive in his need for control over it. In closing arguments, Sarah Eddy, one of OpenAI’s attorneys, told the jury that Musk “wanted dominion over AGI.”
As one X user put it, “if untrustworthyness had mass, putting Musk and Altman too close to one another would collapse the courtroom and all of earth into a black hole.”
OpenAI and Musk did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
It’s not just Musk and Altman, either. Trial evidence suggested Murati helped get Altman removed, then switched sides to support his reinstatement while appearing “totally uninterested” in disclosing the role she’d played. Shivon Zilis, a close Musk associate who served on OpenAI’s board, asked Musk if he’d “prefer I stay close and friendly to OpenAI to keep info flowing” during his departure — avoiding revealing that she had two children with him at the time. Brockman’s diary entries played a key role in Musk’s case; at one point, he admitted Musk could “correctly” claim “we weren’t honest with him” if OpenAI made a for-profit shift without his involvement.
Musk v. Altman gave each man an opportunity to sling dirt at the other and, in theory, establish himself as the more scrupulous guardian of AI. But a more obvious takeaway is that several of the AI industry’s household names are at best naive — and, at worst, hypocrites with little regard for the consequences of their actions.
Public sentiment about AI is at an all-time low. In a Pew Research survey from last summer, half of US adults said the “increased use of AI in daily life makes them feel more concerned than excited” — and only 10 percent said they felt more excited than concerned. Many of these concerns are related to job loss, but protests are also surging against mass data center construction across the country. Some resistance has turned potentially violent, with individuals allegedly attempting to attack Altman’s home on two occasions. And many tech CEOs themselves maintain that they have bunkers or other doomsday-prepping plans for if things go horribly wrong.
These companies push public messaging that AI empowers its users. But a 2025 Pew Research study found that nearly 60 percent of US adults feel they have little to no control over how AI is used in their lives. In the US, the prospect of meaningful government regulation — which could at least offer some level of external oversight — remains shaky. And now, it’s clearer than ever how far the AI world’s biggest players will go to maintain control.
Amid the trial’s reams of evidence, one document offers a rare example of Altman and Musk offering to cede some power. In March 2015, Altman emailed Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella with a simple request: Sign a letter that he and Musk were drafting, asking the US government to establish “a new regulatory agency for AI safety” and address “the biggest risk to the continued existence of humanity that most people are ignoring.” Weeks later, Nadella responded to shut down the idea. The “issue of human safety and the control problem will become real issues,” he said. But executives, he insisted, should be calling for “federal funding and encouragement of research,” not oversight. Altman promptly agreed. The letter, he promised, would be changed — leaving the option of regulating the AI industry “if and when.”
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An unexpected recall text message pops up on your phone. It mentions a familiar company like Amazon, a specific order and a possible safety issue. As a result, it is meant to grab your attention fast.
In the text we received, the message claims that an item from a February 2026 order has been recalled. Next, it tells you to stop using it and click a link for a refund. It also signs off as “Amazon Account Support Team.”
It looks convincing, yes. But when you look a little closer, the red flags start to show up.
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AMAZON ALERTS CUSTOMERS ABOUT IMPERSONATION SCAMS
A fake Amazon recall text may use a familiar company name, order number and safety warning to push users into clicking a suspicious link. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How this Amazon recall scam text works
Let’s walk through what this message is doing and why it raises concern.
It comes from an unfamiliar or unknown number
This is the first red flag. That alone should make you pause. Legitimate companies usually contact you through verified channels tied to your account, not random text numbers. Amazon says it will never ask for sensitive information outside its official website or app.
“Dear Amazon Customer,”
Companies like Amazon usually address you by your name. A generic greeting signals mass messaging.
“This update applies to an item recorded in your February 2026 order (Order No. 113-6285795-7079515).”
Scammers often include an order number to build trust. It looks official. However, it doesn’t prove the sender has access to your real account.
“Following a recent review, the item has been found to significantly fall short of expected quality standards and is now subject to a recall action.”
The language sounds formal but vague. Notice what is missing. The message never names the product, which is something a real recall would always include.
“Please stop using the item for now.”
This line adds urgency. Safety concerns push you to act quickly without verifying details.
“Please follow the link below to review recall details and request a refund online.”
This is the core of the scam. It tries to move you off the platform and onto a link the sender controls.
The link: https://rzxr.vxybcf.xxx/…
This is one of the biggest red flags. The domain has nothing to do with Amazon. It looks random and disposable. Legitimate messages from Amazon use official domains like amazon.com.
“Customer safety remains a priority.”
This sounds reassuring, but adds no real information. It is filler to make the message feel polished.
“Amazon Account Support Team”
Another generic sign-off. Real emails or texts from Amazon often include more structured branding and consistent formatting.
FBI WARNS OF DANGEROUS NEW ‘SMISHING’ SCAM TARGETING YOUR PHONE
Scam texts claiming to be from Amazon may direct users to fake refund pages designed to steal passwords or payment details. (iStock via Getty Images)
Red flags in this Amazon recall text scam
A few simple checks can quickly tell you something is off:
- Comes from an unfamiliar or unknown number
- Uses a generic greeting
- Doesn’t name the product
- Includes a suspicious link
- Pushes urgent action
When you see several of these at once, treat the message as a scam.
What happens if you click an Amazon scam link
That link likely leads to a fake page designed to look like a real Amazon site. From there, a few things can happen. You may be asked to log in. That gives attackers your username and password. You may be asked for payment details under the idea of “processing a refund.” You could also trigger a download that installs malware. The goal is always the same. Get your data or access to your accounts.
“Scammers that attempt to impersonate Amazon put consumers at risk. We will continue to invest in protecting consumers and educating the public on scam avoidance”, an Amazon spokesperson told Cyberguy. “We encourage consumers to report suspected scams to us so that we can protect their accounts and refer bad actors to law enforcement to help keep consumers safe. Please visit our help pages to find additional information on how to identify scams and report them at amazon.com/ReportAScam.”
How to stay safe from Amazon text scams
A few simple checks can help you spot the scam early and protect your account before any damage is done.
1) Verify orders and contact Amazon through official channels
Open the Amazon app or type amazon.com into your browser. Do not use the link in the text. Amazon says that when a product is recalled, affected customers are notified through official channels such as email, push notifications and a dedicated “Your Recalls and Product Safety Alerts” page within their account. Check your Orders page and the “Your Recalls and Product Safety Alerts” section. If anything still seems unclear, contact Amazon Customer Service directly. Never use the contact details provided in the message.
2) Avoid tapping unknown links
That shortened or random-looking domain is a major warning sign. Even if the message looks polished, treat any unfamiliar link as unsafe. If you want to investigate, go to the company’s official site on your own.
3) Use strong antivirus software to block malicious links
If you accidentally tap a link like this, strong antivirus software can help stop harmful sites from loading or block downloads before they install. Many tools now include real-time protection against phishing links, which adds a layer of defense when a scam slips through. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.
4) Use the Report Spam feature on your phone
Scroll to the bottom of the message and tap Report Spam or Report Junk. This helps your device and carrier block similar messages in the future. It also flags the number for others.
MASSIVE SCAM SPREADING DESIGNED TO TRICK YOU AND STEAL YOUR MONEY
Amazon recall scam messages often use generic greetings, unknown numbers and vague product details to target unsuspecting shoppers. (iStock)
5) Consider identity theft protection after a scam attempt
If you entered any personal information, keep an eye on your accounts. Identity theft monitoring services can alert you to suspicious activity, such as new accounts opened in your name or unusual credit changes. That kind of early warning can make a big difference. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at CyberGuy.com.
6) Remove your personal data from public databases
Scammers often rely on personal details to make messages feel convincing. Data removal services can help reduce how much of your information is available online, making it harder for criminals to target you with personalized scams. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting CyberGuy.com/FreeScan.
7) Watch for urgency and pressure
Be cautious of urgent language. Scammers often try to pressure you into acting immediately before you have time to verify the message. Take a moment to verify. A real recall will still be there after you check it through official channels.
8) Protect your accounts with stronger login habits
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible. Use unique passwords for each account. A password manager can make that easier and reduce risk if one account is exposed. Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2026 at CyberGuy.com.
9) Keep your device updated and secure
Make sure your phone’s software is up to date. Security updates can help block malicious links and downloads before they cause harm.
Kurt’s key takeaways
A text like this can look convincing. That’s exactly what it is designed to do. It uses a familiar name like Amazon and urgency to push you into acting fast. Slow down, take a closer look and the red flags start to show up. If something feels off, trust that instinct and verify it before you click anything.
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Would you have clicked that link if it showed up on your phone during a busy day? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Microsoft launched Teams’ Together Mode during the pandemic to give the illusion of a bunch of people sitting in a conference room together, even if they were really sitting at home without pants on. But times have changed, and it’s now being retired in favor of a more simplified Teams experience. The feature used AI to cut your head and shoulds out, and place you in a virtual space with others in the meeting. It could definitely feel gimmicky — especially when you’d tap co-workers on the shoulder, or give virtual high fives — but it did limit visual distractions.
The changes are being rolled out gradually, but as they are, the Together Mode toggle will disappear from the view menu. And Together-specific features, such as scenes and seat assignments, will go along with it. Part of the reasoning, according to Microsoft, is to reduce fragmentation across various platforms. But it also cites a streamlined interface with fewer options, less clicking, and less confusion. It also says this will allow the company to focus on improving video quality, stability, and performance.
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