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AI Is Bringing Back the Dead, And We Need to Talk About It
This is what grief actually looks like. Not an algorithm. Not a chatbot. Not a subscription service. This. And that distinction matters more than the tech industry would like you to think. I've been sitting with this one for a while. That's not something I usually say. Most of what I write about, I feel clear on. Scams make me angry. Privacy violations make me frustrated. Bad tech policy makes me want to write to my MP. The emotion is usually straightforward. This one is diff
Michael Routhier
Featured Post
Scam Alerts
Scammers specifically target adults over 55 — and their tactics are getting more sophisticated every year. Get timely alerts on phone scams, phishing emails, CRA and IRS imposters, fake tech support calls, and online fraud. Every alert tells you what the scam looks like, how to spot it, and exactly what to do. Share these posts, awareness is your best defense.
How to Report a Scam in Canada - 2026 Complete Guide
You got the call. Now what? Whether it was a fake CRA agent, a Canada Post text, or something that just felt wrong, this post walks you through exactly where to report it and what to do next. Canadians lost over $638 million to fraud in 2024. That's the number the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre officially recorded. And here's the part that should make your jaw drop: that's only what got reported. Most people who get scammed never report it at all. Not because they don't want to.
Michael Routhier
2 days ago8 min read
Ghost Tapping: The New Digital Pickpocket You've Never Heard Of
Picture this. You spend a lovely Saturday morning at a farmers market. Fresh bread, some flowers, maybe a jar of that wildflower honey you've been going back for all spring. You pay for everything properly. You never take out your wallet unnecessarily. You never hand your phone to a single person. And then that evening, you check your bank account. There's a charge you don't recognize. That's not a glitch. That's not your bank making a mistake. That's ghost tapping. And it's
Michael Routhier
4 days ago4 min read
SIM Swap Scam: How Fraudsters Hijack Your Phone Number
That tiny chip is your phone number. Your bank verification codes. Your two-factor authentication. Your digital identity. And right now, scammers have figured out how to take it, without ever touching your phone. Let me ask you something. When was the last time you thought about your phone number as something that could be stolen? Not your phone. The number itself. The ten digits your bank uses to verify it's really you. The number your two-factor authentication texts go to.
Michael Routhier
6 days ago8 min read
$2.1 Billion Lost to Social Media Scams: Facebook #1
Three days ago, the FTC dropped a report. The FTC, the Federal Trade Commission, the US government's consumer protection agency, publishes data on fraud losses every year. I read every one. And this year's numbers stopped me cold. In 2025, Americans lost $2.1 billion to scams that started on social media. Not email. Not phone calls. Not text messages. Social media. And of all the platforms scammers used to reach their victims, Facebook was number one. By a wide margin. In fac
Michael Routhier
Apr 296 min read
SMS Blasters: The Text Scam That Can Actually Kill You
I'm going to be honest with you today. I'm a little angry writing this one. Not frustrated. Not mildly concerned. Actually angry. Because what I'm about to describe isn't just another scam designed to steal your money or your identity. It's something that can get people killed. And the people doing it are smart enough to know that. Let's talk about SMS blasters. What Is an SMS Blaster? An SMS blaster is a portable device, in some cases, not much larger than a backpack, that e
Michael Routhier
Apr 296 min read
How to Stop Spam Calls on iPhone and Android for Good
That expression. You know it. You've made it. The call you didn't ask for, from the number you don't recognize, saying something just urgent enough to make your heart rate tick up. We're going to make sure that stops. My phone rang last Tuesday at 9:15 in the morning. Unknown number. Toronto area code. I picked up and heard that unmistakable half-second pause before a recorded voice launched into something about my vehicle warranty expiring. Are you kidding me? If you're nodd
Michael Routhier
Apr 275 min read
How to Report a Scam or Fraud in Canada: The Complete Guide
It's not a word anyone wants to spell. But knowing what to do next makes all the difference. One of our members reached out to me last week. She's 71, lives outside of Ottawa, sharp as a tack. Got a phone call from someone claiming to be from the CRA, Canada Revenue Agency, telling her she owed back taxes and would be arrested within the hour if she didn't pay immediately by gift card. She didn't fall for it. But she was shaken. And she asked me a question I hear all the time
Michael Routhier
Apr 225 min read
The Apple iPhone Scam Targeting Millions; Protect Yourself.
I got a message this week from a woman in our community ; sharp, careful, not the type to fall for anything obvious. She forwarded me a text she had received that looked exactly like it came from Apple. Professional logo. Proper formatting. Polite but urgent tone. It said there was suspicious activity on her Apple Pay account and she needed to verify her identity immediately. She almost clicked it. She didn't, because something felt slightly off. But she told me she genuinely
Michael Routhier
Apr 105 min read
How to Report a Scam: Canada, USA, UK and Europe Guide
Been targeted by a scammer? Here are the official fraud reporting resources for Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe, all in one place.
Michael Routhier
Apr 96 min read
Fake Debt Collector Calls Are Stealing Your Identity
The phone rings. Someone on the other end says they are calling from a collections agency about an outstanding debt. They already know your name. They may even know your address. They ask you to simply "verify" a few pieces of information to confirm your identity before they can proceed. It sounds routine. It sounds official. But it is one of the most sophisticated identity theft scams targeting adults 55 and older right now — and what they are really after is far more danger
Michael Routhier
Mar 234 min read
CRA and IRS Phone Scams Are Targeting Seniors Right Now
Your phone rings. The caller says they are from the Canada Revenue Agency, or the IRS if you are in the United States. They tell you that you owe back taxes and that if you do not pay immediately, you will be arrested. They sound official. They sound urgent. They sound terrifying. And it is completely, 100% fake. Here is everything you need to know. What This Scam Looks Like The CRA and IRS imposter scam is one of the most reported and most financially damaging scams targetin
Michael Routhier
Mar 233 min read
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