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The fake refund scam: Why scammers love holiday shoppers

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The fake refund scam: Why scammers love holiday shoppers

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The holiday shopping season should feel exciting, but for scammers, it’s rush hour. And this year, one trick is hitting more inboxes and phones than ever: the fake refund scam. If you’ve ever seen an unexpected “Your refund has been issued,” “Your payment failed” or “We owe you money” email or text during November or December, it wasn’t an accident.

Scammers know you’re buying more, tracking more packages and juggling more receipts than at any other time of year. That chaos makes fake refund scams incredibly effective and incredibly dangerous.

Here’s why these scams are spreading, how to spot them instantly and the one thing you can do today to stop scammers from targeting you in the first place.

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Fake refund emails can look convincing during the holidays, making it easy to fall for a scam when your inbox is overflowing. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why refund scams skyrocket during the holidays

Scammers strike when Americans are distracted, rushed and making dozens of purchases. Black Friday, Cyber Monday and holiday gift-buying create the perfect storm:

1) You’re expecting legitimate refunds

Holiday shopping means:

  • Items going out of stock
  • Orders getting canceled
  • Packages arriving late
  • Prices changing
  • Stores offering “Best Price Guarantee” refunds.

Scammers know this. When you’re already expecting refund emails, their fake ones blend right in.

2) You’re spending more, which means bigger targets

A study shows that this year, Americans will spend 3.6% more than the previous year on holiday shopping. A $200 to $500 purchase is completely normal during this season. Other reports show a decrease in spending, but note that people spend, on average, over $600 during the Black Friday promotions alone.

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Expenses stack up, new things arrive, some get returned and a “$249 refund issued” message doesn’t look suspicious—it looks plausible. But it’s crucial you check if that message is real. Never click any links without a thorough look at the email address, name and content of the message.

3) Your inbox is overflowing

Have you been eyeing a new home appliance? Or a present for a loved one? Have you saved anything in your cart just to see if the price drops? Thanks to Black Friday, your inbox is probably filled with:

  • Promotional codes
  • Offers
  • Shipping updates
  • Order confirmations
  • Receipts
  • Return notifications.

It’s easy to lose track of your orders and packages amidst the influx of emails. And when you’re skimming more than 200 promotions, scams become harder to catch.

4) They know exactly what you purchased

Scammers get their information from data brokers, companies that collect, package and sell your personal information. Your profile can include anything from your name, contact information, to your purchase history and even your financial situation.

In general, data brokers and shopping apps sell patterns, including:

  • Where you shop
  • How much you spend
  • What categories you buy
  • Recent purchases
  • Your email, phone number and address.

And scammers buy that information to craft compelling and personalized attacks. That’s why their fake refund emails often mimic retailers you actually used.

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Scammers use urgent warnings and realistic details to pressure you into clicking links that steal your personal information. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How the fake refund scam works

Scammers usually follow one of three playbooks:

“Your refund is ready-verify your account.” You click a link, and you’re taken to what looks like Amazon, Walmart, UPS, Target or Best Buy. And when you enter your login, scammers can steal your credentials by manipulating you.

“We overcharged you. Click here for your refund.” It asks for your debit card number, your bank login and your PayPal credentials. Or worse: it installs malware that steals them automatically.

Phone version: “We issued a refund by mistake.” You get a call from someone pretending to be Amazon customer service, PayPal support, or even your bank. They say they “refunded too much money” and need you to send back the difference. Some even screen-share to drain bank accounts in real time.

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These scams cost Americans hundreds of millions of dollars every year. The FTC reports that impostor scams (which are related to online shopping) accounted for the second-highest reported losses, resulting in $2.95 billion being lost in 2024.

What these emails look like so you can spot them fast

Scammers are getting more sophisticated. Fake refund messages often include:

  • Your correct name
  • A real store logo
  • A real order amount
  • A believable order number
  • “Click to view refund” buttons
  • Deadline pressure like “respond within 24 hours.”

Here’s the giveaway: No legitimate retailer requires you to enter banking info to receive a refund, ever.

Note that scams often ask you to:

  • Confirm a payment
  • Verify personal info
  • Log in through a link
  • Provide banking details
  • Download an invoice.

The simplest way to protect yourself before the holiday peak

Deleting your data manually from data broker sites is technically possible, but extremely tedious. Some require government ID uploads, faxed forms, multiple follow-up requests and updates every 30 to 90 days because they relist your data.

This is why most people almost never do it. A data removal service, however, automates the entire process. These services:

  • Identify which broker sites have your info
  • Send official deletion requests on your behalf
  • Force them to remove your data
  • Continually monitor and re-request removals
  • Block brokers from relisting you

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

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Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

Criminals often rely on data from broker sites to personalize refund scams, which is why reducing your digital footprint matters. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to protect yourself this season (3 quick steps)

Remember to follow these few simple steps to safeguard yourself against targeted scams.

1) Never click refund links in emails or texts

Go directly to your retailer’s website and check your actual order history. Verify the email address of the sender and only communicate with official representatives of the retailer.

2) Turn on multi-factor authentication

Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) for all of your accounts. With the help of 2FA, you’ll need to authorize logins via email, text message or generated PINs. So, even if you accidentally enter your password somewhere fake, 2FA can stop the breach.

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3) Limit how scammers can find you

This is the part most people skip—and it’s why they stay targets. Removing your personal info from data broker sites cuts off scammers’ access to your real details. A data removal service automates and makes the process ongoing, which is why I recommend it to my most privacy-conscious readers.

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.

Kurt’s key takeaways

Refund scams explode during the holiday shopping season because scammers rely on two things: Chaos in your inbox and your personal data being sold behind your back. You can’t stop scammers from sending fake emails, but you can stop them from targeting you specifically. Before peak holiday shopping hits, take a moment to clean up your data trail. You’ll end up with fewer scams, fewer risks and far more peace of mind.

Have you received a suspicious refund email or text this season? Share your experience so we can help warn others in the comments below. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Backrooms is a certified blockbuster with a $38 million opening day

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Backrooms is a certified blockbuster with a  million opening day

The Kane Parsons’ film Backrooms is expected to earn up to $90 million in its opening weekend after pulling down $38 million on Friday alone. That’s not only above expectations, but absolutely obliterates A24’s previous opening weekend record of $25.5 million for Alex Garland’s Civil War. It’s also a better opening day than The Mandalorian and Grogu, which only pulled down $33.7 million on its way to a total $81.6 million for the weekend.

That also means that Backrooms is an incredibly profitable movie, with an estimated $10 million budget. By comparison, the latest Star Wars disappointment cost $165 million and was considered affordable compared to other entries in the series.

While Backrooms hasn’t received quite as much universal praise as fellow low-budget horror breakout Obsession, it’s still largely getting positive reviews. It also adds to the growing number of YouTube creators (including Obsession’s Curry Barker) who have proven to be successful box office draws.

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Cab-less electric trucks hit Ohio roads

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Cab-less electric trucks hit Ohio roads

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A freight truck with no driver, no cab and no one sitting behind the wheel is starting to sound more familiar. In fact, this summer, that is exactly what is happening on local roads in Marysville, Ohio.

EASE Logistics, an Ohio-based logistics company, is partnering with autonomous truck technology company Einride to deploy two cab-less electric trucks between EASE warehouse locations. The two companies recently announced the proof-of-concept service.

The trucks will operate on EASE property and local public roads. They will move goods between warehouse locations while the companies collect data on warehousing, distribution and transportation operations.

The project is part of the Ohio Department of Transportation’s DriveOhio Truck Automation Corridor Project, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation. The goal is to study how autonomous trucking affects operations, safety and freight efficiency.

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Autonomous cab-less electric trucks are beginning real-world freight testing this summer on local roads in Marysville, Ohio, as EASE Logistics and Einride launch a new pilot program. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What are cab-less electric trucks?

These are not regular trucks with a driver waiting to take over. Einride’s vehicles are electric, autonomous and cab-less. That means there is no traditional driver’s seat, steering wheel area or cab built for a human operator.

The trucks use SAE Level 4 autonomous technology. In other words, the vehicle can drive itself under specific approved conditions without a human driver inside.

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However, the trucks will still have human oversight. A remote operator will monitor them from off-site and can intervene when needed. The companies say that setup helps keep operations running safely and smoothly during the test.

Where will the autonomous trucks operate?

The trucks will move freight between EASE Logistics warehouses in Marysville, Ohio. They will operate during the summer of 2026 on private property and local public roads.

That detail makes a difference because many autonomous vehicle tests happen in controlled settings. This project moves closer to normal freight work. These trucks will operate inside daily logistics

EASE says the deployment will generate data on how autonomous trucks affect warehouse movement, distribution timing and transportation operations. The companies want to see how this technology performs in the real world, where freight schedules and traffic conditions rarely behave perfectly.

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EASE Logistics and Einride will operate driverless electric freight trucks between Ohio warehouse locations while collecting data on safety, efficiency and logistics operations. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Why Ohio is testing cab-less electric trucks

Ohio has become an active testing ground for truck automation. This deployment extends the Ohio Department of Transportation and DriveOhio’s Truck Automation Corridor Project, in partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation. The project is designed to evaluate how autonomous technology affects operations, safety and freight efficiency.

EASE President and CEO Peter Coratola, Jr., said, “EASE is proud to continue advancing the Truck Automation Corridor Project alongside DriveOhio and innovative partners like Einride.” He added, “Deployments like this help move autonomous trucking from controlled pilots into daily freight operations, where safety, reliability, and efficiency can be evaluated at scale.”

This also marks EASE Logistics’ third autonomous trucking deployment with DriveOhio. That puts the company among a small group of logistics providers testing multiple autonomous freight platforms in live operations.

How safe are cab-less electric trucks?

When people hear “driverless truck,” their first thought may not be efficiency. It may be, “What happens if something goes wrong?”

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That reaction is fair. These vehicles are large, heavy and operate near the public. So safety will shape how people judge this project.

Einride CEO Roozbeh Charli said, “Deploying these autonomous trucks in daily logistics operations with EASE reflects years of rigorous development and real-world validation.” He added, “Safety is not a feature we add to our technology; it is the foundation everything is built on.”

The companies also say a remote operator monitors the trucks off-site and can intervene if needed. That detail helps, but the public will still want clear answers about routes, oversight, emergency response and how remote operators step in. Those answers will become more important as autonomous trucks leave closed test areas and enter everyday traffic.

Why companies want driverless freight

For logistics companies, the appeal is easy to understand. Electric autonomous trucks could help move freight with fewer emissions, more predictable scheduling and tighter warehouse coordination.

Short warehouse-to-warehouse routes also make sense for early autonomous deployments. The route is limited. The operation is easier to study. The company can collect useful data without starting with long-haul trucking across several states.

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Still, the rollout will need to prove itself. Trucks must handle traffic, road conditions, pedestrians and unexpected behavior from human drivers. Those moments will test whether autonomous freight can deliver on its promise.

The future of autonomous trucking

Autonomous trucking has moved from bold promise to real-world testing. Yet the industry still has to earn public confidence.

This Ohio deployment gives EASE, Einride and transportation officials a chance to gather useful data. It also gives the public a closer look at what driverless freight looks like.

The cab-less design may be the most striking part. Removing the cab signals a bigger shift. These trucks are built around the idea that the vehicle, software and remote operations team can handle the job.

That marks a major change in how freight has worked for generations.

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Ohio officials are expanding autonomous freight testing with cab-less electric trucks operating on public roads under remote human supervision this summer. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What this means to you

You may not live near Marysville, Ohio. Still, this test matters because it shows where freight transportation is heading.

If the project works well, more companies could look at autonomous trucks for warehouse-to-warehouse routes. That could change how goods move before they ever reach store shelves or your front door.

It could also raise new questions for workers. Logistics companies may need more people who can monitor, maintain and manage autonomous systems. At the same time, drivers and warehouse workers will want honest answers about how these trucks could affect jobs over time.

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For consumers, the biggest issue may be trust. People will want proof that these vehicles can operate safely around regular traffic. They will also want transparency when something goes wrong.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Cab-less electric trucks on Ohio roads may sound alarming at first. But this project shows how quickly autonomous freight is moving into real logistics work. The EASE and Einride deployment still has plenty to prove. Safety, public trust, worker impact and day-to-day reliability will all matter. However, this summer’s test could give the trucking industry a clearer look at what comes next. Driverless freight may start with short warehouse routes. Over time, it could reshape how goods move across the country.

Would you feel comfortable sharing the road with a cab-less electric truck if no driver was inside, but a remote operator was watching from miles away?  Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

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Nvidia, Microsoft, and Arm are all teasing Nvidia’s new N1X laptop processors

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Nvidia, Microsoft, and Arm are all teasing Nvidia’s new N1X laptop processors

It’s the world’s worst kept secret that Nvidia is about to announce its own Arm-powered laptop chips at Computex this weekend, and now Microsoft, Nvidia, and Arm are all openly teasing the announcement. The Windows and Nvidia GeForce accounts on X both posted “A new era of PC” earlier today, and now Arm has followed up with an identical post.

All three posts include coordinates pointing to where Computex is hosted in Taipei. Nvidia is holding a Computex keynote in Taipei at 8PM PT / 11PM ET on Sunday night, where it’s rumored to be announcing its new N1 and N1x laptop chips.

These Arm-powered Nvidia processors have been long-rumored, with reports earlier this year suggesting that both Lenovo and Dell have been preparing new laptops with the N1X chips. We first heard rumors about Nvidia’s laptop processors in 2023, and Dell CEO Michael Dell hinted at the possibility of an AI PC with Nvidia during an interview in 2024.

Nvidia’s entry into Windows on Arm will mean Qualcomm will no longer have an exclusive license for Microsoft’s Windows 11 Arm variant of its operating system. That’s good news for laptop competition, even if Qualcomm is trying to keep entry-level laptops affordable with its new Snapdragon C platform.

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