Technology
Retirees lose millions to fake holiday charities as scammers exploit seasonal generosity
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The holidays are supposed to be a season of generosity, family and giving back. For many retirees, October through December is the time to support causes close to their hearts, whether it’s helping veterans, feeding families or donating to disaster relief. But there’s a darker side to this generosity. Scammers know that retirees are among the most generous members of our communities, and they exploit that kindness to line their own pockets.
Millions of dollars are stolen through fake “charities” that pop up just before the holidays. Their calls, letters and emails look legitimate, but the money never reaches those in need. Instead, it funds criminals who are ready to strike again.
Here’s what every retiree (and their loved ones) should know about holiday charity scams and how to protect their money, identity and peace of mind.
HOW RETIREES CAN STOP FAKE DEBT COLLECTOR SCAMS
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Scammers mimic real charities to pressure retirees into quick donations. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Why retirees are prime targets for fake charities
Retirees often give more generously than other groups. Scammers know this, and they know how to tailor their pitch.
- Emotional appeals: Fraudsters will mention children, veterans or natural disaster victims to tug at heartstrings.
- Polite persistence: Retirees tend to answer calls and engage longer on the phone, which scammers see as an opportunity.
- Data exposure: Your name, age, phone number and even donation history can already be found online through data brokers. That means scammers don’t need to guess; they target you because they know you’ve donated before.
When you combine generosity with publicly available data, scammers see retirees as the “perfect donors.”
HOW SCAMMERS TARGET YOU EVEN WITHOUT SOCIAL MEDIA
Fake charity red flags
How do you know if a charity request is real or just a scam dressed up for the holidays? Look for these warning signs:
- Pressure to act fast: If a caller insists you donate “right now” or tries to guilt you into giving before you hang up, it’s likely a scam. Real charities welcome donations anytime.
- No details about how money is used: Authentic charities can explain where funds go. Scammers use vague promises like “helping the needy” without specifics.
- Untraceable payment methods: Requests for gift cards, wire transfers or peer-to-peer app transfers (like Venmo or Zelle) are instant red flags.
- Lookalike names: Fraudsters often invent names that sound similar to well-known charities, like “Veterans Hope Relief” or “Children’s Aid International.”
- Caller ID tricks: Scammers can spoof numbers to make it look like they’re calling from a local area code or even a real charity office.
How to safely check a charity before donating
Here’s how to protect yourself while still supporting the causes that matter to you:
- Research the charity’s name: Before donating, search it on sites like Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance at give.org/. If it doesn’t appear there, that’s a red flag.
- Ask for written information: Real organizations will happily mail or email details about their mission, budgets and how donations are used.
- Verify tax-exempt status: Use the IRS Tax-Exempt Organization Search at Irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits to confirm the charity is legitimate.
- Check how much goes to the cause: Some charities are real but inefficient, spending more on salaries than programs. Make sure your donation actually helps.
REMOVE YOUR DATA TO PROTECT YOUR RETIREMENT FROM SCAMMERS
Protecting your payment details
Even if the charity itself is real, you need to protect how you give:
- Use a credit card rather than a debit card because credit cards offer stronger fraud protection.
- Never give payment info over the phone if you didn’t initiate the call.
- Donate through the charity’s official website instead of clicking links in unsolicited emails.
- Keep records of your donations for tax purposes and to spot anything suspicious later.
The elderly must stay vigilant as holiday charity scams target older donors. (iStock)
Why removing your data online reduces charity scam calls
Here’s something most people don’t realize: many charity scams start with data brokers. These companies collect your personal details, such as age, phone number, donation history and even religious or political leanings, and sell them to anyone who asks. That means fraudsters can buy a ready-made list of “generous retirees who donate to veterans’ causes” and start calling immediately. The more information out there about you, the more personalized and convincing scam calls become. That’s why removing your data from broker sites is one of the most powerful defenses available to you.
The easy way to do it
Manually contacting hundreds of data brokers is a never-ending task. Each one has its own forms, emails and hoops to jump through, and many will re-add you months later. That’s where a data removal service comes in. They automatically reach out to data brokers on your behalf, demand the removal of your personal info and keep following up so it doesn’t creep back online.
While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.
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.
Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.
HOW SCAMMERS EXPLOIT YOUR DATA FOR ‘PRE-APPROVED’ RETIREMENT SCAMS
Protect your personal information by donating only through verified official websites. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Kurt’s key takeaways
The holidays should be about joy, generosity and giving back, not about lining the pockets of fraudsters. By spotting the red flags of fake charities, double-checking where your money goes and removing your personal information from online databases, you can keep your donations safe and make sure they reach the people who truly need them. Remember: protecting your generosity is just as important as sharing it.
Have you ever been contacted by a fake charity during the holidays? What tipped you off? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Anthropic upgrades Claude’s memory to attract AI switchers
Anthropic is making it easier to switch to its Claude AI from other chatbots with an update that brings Claude’s memory feature to users on the free plan, along with a new prompt and dedicated tool for importing data from other chatbots. These upgrades could allow users who have been using rivals like OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini to quickly copy the data their preferred AI has collected on them and bring it over to Anthropic’s chatbot. That way, they don’t have to “start over” teaching Claude the context and history their previous chatbot already knows.
The option to import and export memories from Claude has been available since October, when Anthropic also rolled out the option for users to turn on Claude’s memory. Up until now, the memory feature was only available to users on paid Claude subscriptions, but now all Claude users can turn it on by going into “settings” then “capabilities.” This menu is also where users can find the new memory importing tool, which has users copy a pre-written prompt into their previous AI then copy the output from that prompt back into Claude’s importing tool.
Anthropic is introducing the upgraded memory importing tool as Claude is seeing a rise in popularity, driven by tools like Claude Code and Claude Cowork. Last month, Anthropic launched its new Opus 4.6 and Sonnet 4.6 models, which the company says are better at coding and completing complex tasks like working through a spreadsheet or filling out forms.
Anthropic has also been experiencing a spike in attention recently after pushing back against demands from the Pentagon to loosen the guardrails on its AI models, with the company stating publicly that they drew “red lines” around mass surveillance and fully autonomous lethal weapons.
Technology
Why the Microsoft 365 Copilot bug matters for data security
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You trust your email security settings for a reason. So when an AI assistant quietly reads and summarizes messages marked confidential, that trust takes a hit.
Microsoft says a bug in Microsoft 365 Copilot allowed its AI chat feature to process sensitive emails since late January.
The issue bypassed Data Loss Prevention policies that organizations rely on to protect private information. Put simply, emails that were supposed to stay locked down were being summarized anyway.
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Microsoft 365 Copilot’s work chat interface sits at the center of the issue after a bug allowed it to summarize confidential emails. (Microsoft)
Microsoft 365 Copilot bug summarized confidential emails
Microsoft says a coding error impacted Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat, specifically the “work tab” feature. The AI assistant helps business users summarize content, draft responses and analyze information across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote.
Beginning Jan. 21, an internal bug labeled CW1226324 caused Copilot to read and summarize emails stored in Sent Items and Drafts folders.
The real concern runs deeper. Several of those messages carried confidentiality or sensitivity labels.
Companies apply those labels along with DLP policies to block automated systems from accessing restricted content. Despite those safeguards, Copilot still generated summaries.
We reached out to Microsoft, and a spokesperson provided CyberGuy with the following statement:
“We identified and addressed an issue where Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat could return content from emails labeled confidential authored by a user and stored within their Draft and Sent Items in Outlook desktop. This did not provide anyone access to information they weren’t already authorized to see. While our access controls and data protection policies remained intact, this behavior did not meet our intended Copilot experience, which is designed to exclude protected content from Copilot access. A configuration update has been deployed worldwide for enterprise customers.”
Why the Microsoft 365 Copilot bug matters for data security
AI tools feel helpful. They save time and reduce busy work. But they also rely on deep access to your data. When safeguards fail, even temporarily, sensitive content can move in ways you did not expect.
YOUR PHONE SHARES DATA AT NIGHT: HERE’S HOW TO STOP IT
For businesses, that could mean:
Legal discussions summarized outside intended controls
Financial projections processed despite restrictions
HR communications are exposed to automated analysis
Even if no data leaves the organization, the bypass itself raises concerns about how AI integrates with enterprise security systems.
Business users rely on Copilot to streamline work, but a recent bug raised concerns about how it handles sensitive email content. (Microsoft)
How Microsoft is fixing the Microsoft 365 Copilot bug
Microsoft says it began rolling out a fix in early February. The company continues to monitor deployment and is contacting some affected users to verify the fix works.
However, Microsoft has not provided a final timeline for full remediation. It has also not disclosed how many organizations were affected.
The issue is tagged as an advisory, which usually signals limited scope or impact. Still, many security professionals will want deeper clarity before feeling comfortable.
What this Microsoft 365 Copilot issue reveals about AI security
This incident highlights something many companies are wrestling with right now. AI assistants sit inside productivity platforms. They need access to email, documents and collaboration tools to work well.
TIKTOK AFTER THE US SALE: WHAT CHANGED AND HOW TO USE IT SAFELY
At the same time, those platforms contain your most sensitive information. When AI features expand quickly, security policies must evolve just as fast. Otherwise, even a small code mistake can create unexpected exposure.
The Copilot chat feature was designed to boost productivity, yet a code error let it process emails labeled confidential. (Microsoft)
Ways to stay safe after the Microsoft 365 Copilot bug
If your organization uses Microsoft 365 Copilot, here are practical steps to reduce risk:
1) Review Copilot access settings
Work with your IT team to confirm which folders and data sources Copilot can access.
2) Revalidate DLP policies
Test sensitivity labels and DLP (Data Loss Prevention) rules to ensure they block AI processing as intended.
3) Monitor advisory updates
Stay current on Microsoft service alerts and verify that the fix is fully deployed in your tenant.
4) Limit AI scope during investigations
If you have concerns, consider temporarily restricting Copilot features until verification is complete.
5) Train employees on AI boundaries
Remind staff that AI assistants can process drafts and send messages. Encourage careful handling of sensitive content.
6) Audit Copilot activity logs
Review audit logs to see whether Copilot accessed or summarized labeled emails. This helps determine actual exposure rather than assumed risk.
7) Review sensitivity label configuration
Confirm that confidential labels are configured to block AI processing where required. Misconfigured labels can create gaps even after a bug is fixed.
8) Reassess retention and draft policies
Because the issue involved Sent Items and Drafts, evaluate whether sensitive drafts should be stored long-term or deleted after sending.
9) Limit Copilot to specific user groups
Instead of enabling Copilot organization-wide, consider a phased deployment to departments with lower sensitivity exposure.
10) Conduct a post-incident security review
Use this moment to reassess how AI tools integrate with compliance controls. Treat it as a learning opportunity rather than a one-time glitch.
Pro Tip: This Copilot bug centers on enterprise controls. Even so, AI tools operate on your devices and accounts, so keeping software up to date and using strong antivirus software adds an important layer of defense. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
Considering a more private email provider
Enterprise AI bugs raise a bigger question: how much access should email platforms have to your data in the first place? If you want an added layer of privacy beyond mainstream providers, privacy-focused email services are worth exploring.
Some offer end-to-end encryption, support for PGP encryption and a strict no-ads business model that avoids scanning messages for marketing purposes.
AI WEARABLE HELPS STROKE SURVIVORS SPEAK AGAIN
Many also allow you to create disposable email aliases, which can reduce spam and limit exposure if one address is compromised.
While no provider is immune to software bugs, choosing an email service built around privacy rather than data monetization can limit how much of your information is accessible to automated systems in the first place.
For individuals, journalists and small businesses especially, that added control can make a meaningful difference.
For recommendations on private and secure email providers that offer alias addresses, visit Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s key takeaways
AI assistants are becoming part of daily work life. They promise speed, efficiency and smarter workflows. But convenience should never outrun security.
This Copilot bug may have a limited impact. Still, it serves as a reminder that AI tools are only as strong as the guardrails behind them.
When those guardrails slip, even briefly, sensitive information can move in unexpected ways. As AI becomes more embedded in business software, trust will depend on transparency, fast fixes and clear communication.
Here is the real question: If your AI assistant can see everything you write, are you fully confident it respects every boundary you set? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Technology
Samsung’s Digital Home Key lets you use your phone as your key
Just days after showing off the Galaxy S26, Samsung is finally rolling out the ability for users to unlock their home with a tap of their phone or by simply approaching their door. The new feature, called Digital Home Key, will live inside Samsung Wallet and is powered by the Aliro smart home standard.
Samsung first teased its Digital Home Key feature in 2024 and said the feature would be available in 2025. That didn’t pan out, as the CSA’s Aliro standard — which will let users unlock smart locks with any phone — only arrived in February of this year. The new standard uses near-field communication (NFC) for its tap-to-unlock technology. It also supports ultra-wideband (UWB), giving users the ability to unlock their door as they approach and without pulling out their phone.
To add a Digital Home Key to your wallet, you’ll need to set up a compatible smart lock through SmartThings using Matter. Only some Galaxy smartphones support both NFC and UWB, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and up, as well as the Galaxy S22 Ultra and up. You can view the full list of compatible devices on Samsung’s website.
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