The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was set to start enforcing the remaining provisions of its “click-to-cancel” rule on May 14th, requiring that subscriptions be as easy to cancel as to start. Now, the agency says it won’t enforce the rule until July 14th, as TechCrunch reports.

Also known as the Negative Option Rule, the big component of click-to-cancel is that it forbids companies from making customers jump through hoops that differ from the process to sign up for an account. If you can sign up online, you must be able to cancel online, too. As the FTC points out, the original May 14th deadline was already a deferral for that and related provisions.

The agency says it chose to push enforcement back even further after “a fresh assessment of the burdens that forcing compliance by this date would impose.” The FTC voted 3-0 for the delay, but as TechCrunch notes, two of a typical five commissioners were absent from the vote. That’s because they were illegally fired by Donald Trump in March.

Perhaps on the bright side for consumers, the FTC says that starting on the new deadline, “regulated entities must be in compliance with the whole of the Rule because the Commission will begin enforcing it.” However, it doesn’t rule out changing any of the regulation’s provisions, writing that it’s “open to amending the Rule” if enforcing it “exposes any problems.”

A San Fernando Valley, California, man has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after orchestrating a massive fraud operation that targeted dozens of victims, many of them elderly. 

Oren David Sela, 36, stole mail, hijacked phone numbers through SIM swapping, and used victims’ identities to drain bank accounts, stealing over $1.8 million. 

Here is how the scheme worked and what you can do to avoid becoming a victim of a similar attack.

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What is SIM swapping?

SIM swapping is a form of identity theft where a scammer tricks a mobile carrier into transferring your phone number to a new SIM card they control. Once they hijack your number, they can intercept text messages, including verification codes, and gain access to your bank accounts, emails and more.

There are two common ways scammers pull off SIM swaps:

• Social engineering: They impersonate you and contact your phone carrier’s customer support, claiming their phone was lost or stolen. They then convince the carrier to activate a new SIM card with your number.
• Insider threats: In some cases, scammers bribe or trick employees at mobile carriers into switching the number without following proper verification steps.

Once they control your phone number, they can:

• Receive all your incoming calls and texts
• Reset passwords on your email, bank, and social media accounts
• Bypass security alerts sent to your phone
• Lock you out of your own accounts

SIM swapping turns your phone number into a master key for stealing your identity and money.

HOW TO AVOID MALICIOUS SIM SWAPPING SCAM

Inside the $1.8M fraud scheme

Between November 2021 and October 2023, Sela stole mail from homes in Beverly Hills, California, and nearby neighborhoods. He collected personal information, including:

• Debit and credit card details
• Bank account numbers
• Social Security numbers
• Driver’s licenses

Using this information, Sela carried out SIM swapping attacks to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) protections. This allowed him to:

• Break into victims’ online banking and financial accounts
• Open new fraudulent accounts in the victims’ names
• Transfer money into intermediary accounts he controlled
• Order new debit and credit cards linked to the victim accounts

Sela made hundreds of fraudulent withdrawals and transfers. He attempted to steal nearly $2.6 million and successfully stole at least $1.8 million.

The lavish lifestyle and his downfall

Sela often spent the stolen money on luxury goods, including a nearly $17,000 watch. In 2022, he was arrested in Beverly Hills and found with nearly $25,000 in cash, various pieces of expensive jewelry, and numerous fraudulent debit and credit cards belonging to elderly victims. Despite this arrest, Sela continued committing fraud. During two subsequent searches of his properties in 2022 and 2023, law enforcement discovered more than $70,000 in cash, stolen mail, fraudulent identification documents, and banking information linked to dozens of victims.

In October 2024, Sela pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. On April 22, 2025, he was sentenced to 61 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,818,369 in restitution.

Illustration of two-factor authentication. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

FBI WARNS ABOUT NEW EXTORTION SCAM TARGETING SENSITIVE DATA 

Why SIM swapping is so dangerous

Two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security, but it is only effective if the attacker cannot access your phone. When scammers hijack your phone number, they can intercept 2FA codes sent by text and quickly take control of your accounts. Once inside your email or banking app, they can:

• Reset passwords
• Move money
• Lock you out
• Open new lines of credit in your name

They do not even need your password if they can control your number.

WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?

Illustration of security on smart device. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

WHAT EXACTLY IS A DATA BREACH AND WHY SHOULD I CARE?

How to protect yourself from SIM swapping and identity theft

Take these important steps to secure your information:

1. Monitor your accounts: Regularly review your bank statements, credit card statements, and financial accounts for unauthorized activity. Report any suspicious transactions immediately.

2. Lock your SIM card: Set a PIN on your SIM card through your mobile carrier. Without it, your number cannot be moved without your permission.

3. Be cautious about sharing personal information: Limit the amount of personal information you share online, especially on social media. Scammers often use small details like birthdays, pet names, or locations to guess security questions or impersonate you.

4. Place a fraud alert: Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and request a fraud alert. This makes it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name.

5. Check your credit reports: Obtain free copies of your credit reports and review them carefully for suspicious activity. If you find errors or signs of fraud, report them right away.

6. Freeze your credit: A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without your consent. It is free to set up and does not affect your credit score.

7. Use an authenticator app, not SMS for two-factor authentication: Use apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator instead of relying on text message codes, which can be intercepted if your phone number is stolen.

8. Strengthen your passwords: Create strong, unique passwords for each account. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2025 here.

9. Invest in identity theft protection: Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.

10. Be cautious of phishing attempts and use strong antivirus software: Watch out for emails, texts, or calls asking for personal information. Always verify the source before providing sensitive details. Installing antivirus software on all your devices can help protect you by blocking malicious links, detecting phishing attempts, and stopping malware before it can steal your private information. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. 

Kurt’s key takeaways

If scammers can steal your phone number, they can steal your money, your accounts, and even your identity. SIM swapping is a serious threat because it gives criminals a shortcut around your strongest defenses. Take action today to protect your phone, your accounts, and your personal information. A few small steps can make the difference between staying safe and facing a devastating financial loss.

Have you ever been targeted by a SIM swapping scam or identity theft? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact

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A shoe engineered to be made entirely from additive manufacturing will be polarizing in the first quarter of the 21st century. That’s certainly been my experience wearing Adidas’ new 3D-printed Climacool sneakers on the beach, trail, or in the city. I felt more eyes on my footwear than normal, with a determined flick upward to see who was brave enough, dumb enough, or fantastic enough to wear such a shoe.

I’ve been a fan of Adidas’ 3D-printed kicks ever since I purchased a pair of its 4D running shoes a few years ago. But those are traditional multi-material sneakers with 3D printing limited to the midsoles. Adidas is taking things to the next level with Climacool — a single-piece shoe that’s 100 percent 3D printed. They were teased late last year with a limited drop, but now anyone can buy them.

The rubbery lattice structure varies in density from the sole (where it’s high) to the upper (low) to provide the right balance of cushion and flex. Adidas calls the shoe lightweight, but at 416 grams, it’s heavier and more rigid than I expected from the photos and marketing pitch. It can be folded in half, toe to heel, but these are not the shoes I’d pack for recovery after a long hike or bike ride, for example.

They “mold seamlessly around the foot” as advertised for an extremely comfortable fit. If you’ve ever worn neoprene water shoes, you’ll know the feeling, although those lack Adidas’ surprisingly soft and responsive integrated insole. The gaps in the 3D-printed latticework allow for water and air to easily circulate around the foot. While they could be worn for water sports like stand-up paddleboarding, the thick, spongy sole unfortunately dampens any board feel.

Putting on the snug, slip-on shoe can be a struggle, snagging socks and sweaty feet alike. And going sockless can result in sand and debris getting trapped between the shoe and your skin. I had to turn around on a gritty trail after about 1km (half a mile) due to the first signs of blistering on the back of my bare heels.

Fortunately, the dirty shoes can be immersed in a sink of soapy water and easily scrubbed clean. A toothpick makes quick work of dislodging pebbles that inevitably embed themselves into the gaps, especially along the bottom.

Adidas’ 3D-printed shoes feel most at home worn casually around the city. It’s here, among other appreciative sneakerheads, that the Adidas Climacool sneaker lives up to its tagline: “Made like nothing, feels like nothing, looks like nothing.”

They’re only available in a single off-white colorway, but they’re comfortable, durable, and make a compelling entry onto the streetwear scene. More importantly, they bring us to the precipice of being able to upload a 3D foot scan for made-to-order shoes printed exactly to our specifications, and I’m here for it.

The $140 Climacool sneakers are available to buy via the Adidas Confirmed app, and through select Adidas stores.

Photos by Thomas Ricker / The Verge