Technology

Why widows and divorced women are targets for retirement scams

Published

4 weeks ago

March 8, 2026

Why widows and divorced women are targets for retirement scams

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International Women’s Day celebrates empowerment, independence and resilience. However, people rarely talk about a difficult reality. Women navigating major life transitions, especially widows and divorced women, have become prime targets for sophisticated financial scams. In fact, scammers often look for people going through emotional or financial change. That is exactly what happened to one woman interviewed by ICE after she lost her husband and turned to online dating.

“Somebody suggested going online through a dating service… and this guy’s pictures showed up. He was no George Clooney, nothing gorgeous, but he did resemble my husband.”

Stories like this highlight an uncomfortable truth. Romance scams do not succeed because victims are careless. Instead, scammers carefully identify potential targets and craft messages that feel personal and believable. Increasingly, that targeting begins with data.

Scammers often build trust slowly through online conversations before introducing fake investment opportunities. (iStock)

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Life transitions create digital signals

When someone loses a spouse or goes through a divorce, certain information often becomes public or commercially available:

Obituaries list surviving spouses, family members and cities.
Property records reflect ownership changes.
Court filings may indicate marital status updates.
Address changes and household composition shifts get logged in databases.

Data brokers collect and package this information. They build profiles that may include:

Age
Property ownership
Estimated income or home value
Household composition
Marital status indicators

While this data is often marketed for advertising purposes, it can also be misused. Scammers don’t randomly search for victims. They build targeting lists. And “recently widowed” and “newly single homeowner” are categories that can be inferred from publicly available and commercially aggregated data.

How obituary scraping fuels targeting

Obituaries are meant to honor loved ones. But they can also unintentionally expose personal details:

Full names
Surviving spouse
Children and other relatives
City of residence
Sometimes even maiden names.

Scammers scrape obituary websites and cross-reference them with people-search databases. Within days, they can identify surviving spouses, locate their addresses and find phone numbers. This is often the starting point for:

Fake investment pitches
Impersonation scams
Romance approaches
Fraudulent “financial advisor” outreach

The scammer’s advantage? They already know what just happened in your life. That makes their message feel personal and believable.

Romance-investment hybrids are exploding

One of the fastest-growing threats today is the so-called “pig butchering” scam – a long-term romance scheme that transitions into an investment pitch.

Public records and data broker profiles can reveal life changes like widowhood or divorce, helping criminals identify potential targets. (Felix Zahn/Photothek via Getty Images)

Here’s how it works:

A scammer initiates contact through social media or messaging apps.
They build trust over weeks or months.
They introduce a “lucrative investment opportunity.”
The victim transfers funds to what appears to be a legitimate platform.
The money disappears.

Widows and divorced women are disproportionately targeted because scammers assume:

There may be life insurance proceeds or retirement savings available.
The individual is managing finances independently for the first time.
Emotional vulnerability may make relationship-building easier.

These scams can cost victims hundreds of thousands of dollars. And the targeting often begins with data broker profiles.

Fake financial advisors and retirement predators

Another growing tactic involves scammers posing as:

They may reference accurate details such as:

The value of your home
Your approximate age
Your city or neighborhood
Your marital status.

Because the information is correct, the outreach feels legitimate. Some even create fake websites, LinkedIn profiles and credentials to reinforce credibility. Women managing retirement assets alone, especially after the death of a spouse, are often approached with “exclusive” investment opportunities or urgent financial warnings. These predators rely on one thing: access to detailed personal information.

Why data exposure increases risk

The more publicly accessible your information is, the easier it becomes for scammers to craft convincing stories.

Data broker profiles can include:

Home addresses
Phone numbers
Names of relatives
Property ownership history
Estimated income bracket.

When scammers combine this with obituary data or court filings, they can infer life changes. They don’t need illegal hacking. They just need searchable data. Reducing that exposure significantly lowers the likelihood of becoming a target.

How to reduce your risk

International Women’s Day is about empowerment, and financial independence is a critical part of that. Protecting yourself means:

Being cautious with unsolicited investment offers
Verifying credentials independently
Never transferring funds based on online-only relationships
Limiting how easily your personal information can be found.

One of the most effective proactive steps is removing your personal data from people-search sites and other data brokers.

There are hundreds of these sites, each with its own opt-out process, and many relist your data later. However, reducing how much of your personal information appears online can make it much harder for scammers to build convincing profiles about you.

WHY JANUARY IS THE BEST TIME TO REMOVE PERSONAL DATA ONLINE

Start by searching for your name on major people-search websites and reviewing what information appears publicly. If you find personal details listed, most sites provide instructions for requesting removal.

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.

Limiting how easily your personal information can be found online can reduce the chances of scammers targeting you. (Uchar/Getty Images)

MAKE 2026 YOUR MOST PRIVATE YEAR YET BY REMOVING BROKER DATA

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Kurt’s key takeaways

International Women’s Day celebrates strength, independence and resilience. However, empowerment also means understanding how scammers operate in the real world. Criminals do not rely on luck. Instead, they rely on data. Obituaries, property records and data broker profiles can quietly reveal life changes that make someone appear financially stable yet emotionally vulnerable. Fortunately, awareness can change the equation. For example, you can verify financial advisors independently, question unsolicited investment offers and limit how easily people can find your personal information online. As a result, these steps can dramatically reduce your risk. Ultimately, protecting your financial future is part of protecting your independence. That goal sits at the heart of International Women’s Day.

Have you ever been contacted by someone online offering investment advice or a financial opportunity that felt suspicious? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Technology

A folk musician became a target for AI fakes and a copyright troll

Published

10 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

A folk musician became a target for AI fakes and a copyright troll

In January, folk artist Murphy Campbell discovered several songs on her Spotify profile that did not belong there. They were songs that she had recorded, but she’d never uploaded them to Spotify, and something was off about the vocals.

She quickly surmised that someone had pulled performances of the songs she posted to YouTube, created AI covers, and uploaded them to streaming platforms under her name. I ran one of the songs, “Four Marys”, through two different AI detectors, and it seemed to support her suspicions with both saying it was probably AI-generated.

Campbell was shocked, “I was kind of under the impression that we had a little bit more checks in place before someone could just do that. But, you know, a lesson learned there,” she told The Verge. It took some time before Campbell managed to get the fake songs removed, “I became a pest,” she said. And even then, it wasn’t a complete victory. While the offending tracks don’t appear to be available on YouTube Music or Apple Music anymore, at least one can still be found on Spotify, just under a different artist profile, but with the same name. There are now multiple Murphy Campbells — “Obviously, I was thrilled by that,” the real Murphy Campbell said.

Spotify is testing a new system that would allow artists to manually approve songs before they appear on their profile, but Campbell is skeptical after being burned. “I feel like, every time, an entity that’s that large makes a promise like that to musicians. It seems to just not be what they made it out to be, but I’ll be curious to try it out in the future,” she said.

This was just the beginning of Campbell’s nightmare, however.

On the day that a Rolling Stone article was published, discussing Campbell’s brush with AI imitators, a series of videos were uploaded to YouTube through distributor Vydia. Those videos have not been posted publicly, and it’s unclear if anyone other than the uploader, who goes by Murphy Rider, has seen them. YouTube declined to comment for this story.

Those were used to claim ownership of the material in several of Murphy Campbell’s videos. Campbell received a notice from YouTube reading: “You are now sharing revenues with the copyright owners of the music detected in your video, Darling Corey.” The most confusing part, the songs at the center of these claims are all in the public domain, including the classic “In the Pines,” which dates back to at least the 1870s and has been covered by everyone from Lead Belly to Nirvana (as “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”).

Vydia has since released those claims, and spokesperson Roy LaManna says the person who uploaded the videos has been banned from their platform. Of the over 6,000,000 claims filed by Vydia through YouTube’s Content ID system, 0.02 percent were found to be invalid, which LaManna says is, “by industry standards is like amazing.” Continuing, “we pride ourselves on doing this the right way.”

LaManna also says that Vydia has no connection to Timeless IR or the AI covers that were uploaded to streaming platforms under Campbell’s name. While the timing is certainly suspicious, LaManna says the two incidents are separate.

Vydia has received a lot of blowback including, LaManna says, “literal death threats” which have led to the offices being evacuated. Campbell isn’t about to let Vydia off the hook, but notes that it’s not solely to blame. The worlds of generative AI, music distribution, and copyright are complex with multiple points of failure and opportunities for abuse. “I think it goes way deeper than we think it does,” Campbell says.

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Terrence O’Brien

Technology

Industrial exoskeletons help workers do more with less strain

Published

11 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Industrial exoskeletons help workers do more with less strain

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If you have ever spent a full day lifting, drilling overhead, or bending over a conveyor belt, you know how quickly fatigue sets in. That is exactly where industrial exoskeletons come in.

These wearable systems strap onto the body and help carry the load. Instead of your muscles doing all the work, the device shares it. As a result, workers feel less strain and can stay productive longer. This tech is already showing up on real job sites across the country.

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WEARABLE ROBOTICS ARE CHANGING HOW WE WALK AND RUN

A worker uses the Laevo FLEX exoskeleton to support the lower back during repetitive lifting and bending tasks. (Laevo)

What are industrial exoskeletons?

Industrial exoskeletons are wearable mechanical systems designed to support your body during physical tasks. They do not replace workers. They help workers perform demanding jobs with less physical stress. There are three main types, and each works differently depending on the job.

Passive exoskeletons: simple support that works

Passive systems do not use motors or batteries. Instead, they rely on springs or mechanical structures to redistribute weight.

A strong real-world example is the Hilti EXO-O1. This shoulder harness shifts the weight of your arms to your hips using spring-loaded supports. Testing shows it can reduce shoulder muscle load by up to 47% during overhead work. Many workers say tools feel almost weightless by the end of the day.

Another example is the Laevo FLEX. This passive system uses spring-based assistance to support the lower back during bending and lifting. It is designed for dynamic movement, allowing workers to walk freely and lift without needing to switch the system on or off.

Laevo FLEX also offers adjustable support and is built for long wear across different environments, including outdoor use. Like other passive systems, it helps reduce strain on the lower back during repetitive tasks without adding motors or batteries.

These systems are relatively lightweight, typically between about 4.4 and 8.8 pounds. However, support remains constant during use, so it cannot adapt automatically to different tasks in real time.

Passive Hilti EXO-O1 exoskeleton to help relieve strain on shoulders and arms during overhead installation work. (HILTI)

Powered exoskeletons: high-tech strength on demand

Powered exoskeletons use motors, sensors, and onboard processors to actively assist movement. An example is the German Bionic Exia. This battery-powered back exoskeleton is designed for warehouse and logistics work, where employees lift and move items throughout the day. It actively supports the lower back during lifts, helping reduce strain and fatigue over time.

These systems track your motion using sensors and respond almost instantly. Many can detect lifting movements in real time and provide support as you move, so the assistance feels natural instead of delayed.

Powered exoskeletons can significantly reduce the effort required for repetitive lifting tasks, especially in high-volume environments.

However, there are trade-offs. Some powered systems are heavier and can weigh over 40 pounds, depending on the design. They are also far more expensive, often costing tens of thousands of dollars, so most companies introduce them through pilot programs.

NEW EXOSKELETON ADAPTS TO TERRAIN WITH SMART AI POWER

German Bionic’s powered exoskeleton Exia provides real-time support to ease physical strain on the job. (German Bionic)

Soft exosuits: flexible and lightweight

Soft exosuits use fabric, straps and tension systems instead of rigid frames. One example is the HeroWear Apex 2. This lightweight system weighs about three pounds and wraps around the shoulders and waist to assist with lifting movements.

In warehouse testing, soft back-support exosuits have been shown to improve productivity while reducing reported lower back discomfort for workers performing repetitive tasks.

These systems allow more natural movement than rigid exoskeletons. However, they provide less force, so they are best suited for repetitive tasks rather than heavy lifting.

Workers use the HeroWear Apex 2 exosuit to reduce back strain during repetitive lifting and bending tasks. (HeroWear)

Where exoskeletons make the biggest impact

The biggest benefits show up in everyday tasks that put the most strain on your body.

Overhead work becomes manageable

Holding tools above your head all day strains your shoulders and neck. Systems like the Hilti EXO-O1 can reduce muscle load by up to about 47%, making tools feel much lighter.

Heavy lifting gets safer

Back-support systems like the Laevo FLEX shift part of the load away from the spine. Studies show muscle effort can drop by up to 30% during lifting.

Repetitive bending adds up less

Soft systems like the HeroWear Apex 2 help reduce fatigue during constant bending. Workers complete more tasks while feeling less strain by the end of a shift.

The trade-offs you should know

Exoskeletons offer real benefits, but they are not perfect. Fit is critical. If a device does not align properly with your body, it can cause discomfort or limit movement. Proper fitting and training are essential. Weight also matters. Even lightweight systems add extra load. Powered systems can weigh more than 40 pounds.

Cost remains a barrier for many companies. Passive systems may cost a few thousand dollars, while powered systems can cost tens of thousands. There is also a long-term consideration. Relying too heavily on assistance could reduce muscle engagement over time. Experts recommend using exoskeletons alongside proper ergonomics and regular movement.

What this means for you

If your job involves physical labor, this technology could change your daily experience. You may feel less sore at the end of a shift. You may reduce your risk of injury over time. You may even be able to work longer without the same level of fatigue.

For employers, the benefits are clear. Fewer injuries, fewer missed workdays, and more consistent productivity. Adoption is still growing, so many workplaces are testing these systems before rolling them out more broadly.

Where can you buy industrial exoskeletons?

You might be wondering if you can order one of these like any other piece of gear. In most cases, you cannot. Most industrial exoskeletons are sold directly to companies, not individuals. Manufacturers typically work with employers through pilot programs or bulk orders. That means you will not usually find these on standard retail sites.

Some lighter systems, especially passive or soft exosuits, are easier to access. Even then, many brands still prefer to sell through business channels or approved partners.

If you are interested, start with the manufacturer’s website. Look for options like “request a demo” or “contact sales.” This is often the first step before any purchase. For now, access depends on where you work. As adoption grows, that could change. More companies are testing these systems, which may eventually make them easier to get.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

Industrial exoskeletons are moving quickly from early trials to real-world use. They are not replacing human workers. They are helping people work smarter and safer. As the technology improves, expect lighter designs, better comfort, and more intelligent assistance. This shift could redefine what physically demanding work looks like in the years ahead.

If your employer offered you an exoskeleton tomorrow, would you wear it on the job or would you hesitate? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

Anthropic essentially bans OpenClaw from Claude by making subscribers pay extra

Published

23 hours ago

April 4, 2026

Press Room

Anthropic essentially bans OpenClaw from Claude by making subscribers pay extra

Starting tomorrow at 12pm PT, Claude subscriptions will no longer cover usage on third-party tools like OpenClaw.

You can still use these tools with your Claude login via extra usage bundles (now available at a discount), or with a Claude API key.

We’ve been working hard to meet the increase in demand for Claude, and our subscriptions weren’t built for the usage patterns of these third-party tools. Capacity is a resource we manage thoughtfully and we are prioritizing our customers using our products and API.

Subscribers get a one-time credit equal to your monthly plan cost. If you need more, you can now buy discounted usage bundles. To request a full refund, look for a link in your email tomorrow.

We want to be intentional in managing our growth to continue to serve our customers sustainably long-term. This change is a step toward that.