Whoa, Reader, have you noticed that scams are everywhere these days? Honestly, it freaks me out a little that it’s getting harder and harder to figure out who you can actually trust. And with AI getting smarter all the time, it’s not just random emails to watch out for anymore. I’ve even heard stories from coworkers who have heard about a job applicant who used an AI “clone” to hide his true identity. What in the world is going on?

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But here’s the thing, scams, identity theft, fraud... they aren't just an “out there” problem. It can hit close to home, too.

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Have you ever Googled yourself? How’d that go? I did it a while back and was genuinely shocked(!) by how much of my info was floating around online. Oh, the details! There's so much information you can uncover about someone -- their close family members, old phone numbers, addresses, voter registration, friends. Heck, they may even know your previous pets' names if you poked around long enough!

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And what about scam calls? I read a story about Charlotte Cowles, a financial journalist who lost her entire life savings to a phone scam.
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From what I understand, Charlotte, being a financial journalist, knew how to keep her money safe and secure, but all it took was a phone call to change her world. Her story is well worth sharing so you can be aware and protect your family's finances, as well.

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Scammers used details they found about her online and, through savvy manipulation, convinced her over the course of a few calls, to empty her bank account, put $50,000 in a shoebox, and hand it to a stranger! It’s a fascinating read. Her real-life accounts and the drama that unfolded could be made into a thrilling movie. Here's the article: The Day I Put $50,000 in a Shoe Box and Handed It to a Stranger

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But here's the kicker: She said if she hadn’t answered the phone that day, she wouldn’t have been scammed. 💡

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When I read that statement, things clicked! Get your name off of the scammers' call lists! I researched this last year, and I signed up for a company: Incogni (*affiliate), an online personal data removal service that helps users erase their information from data brokers and people search websites. Within just 2-3 weeks of signing up for Incogni*, my scam calls dropped dramatically, then they finally stopped. Just. Like. That!

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If you could stop a phone call from taking your life savings, you absolutely should do it, right?

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After experiencing these impressive results, I knew I had to share these insights with you. Heck, I even shared this information at a team meeting for my 9-5 day job! And since becoming a happy customer, I reached out to Incogni to see what type of deal they could offer my readers. They are giving you 50% off if you sign up with this link!

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Charlotte’s story isn't unique. It happens many times over. And the sad part is, you don’t have to be clueless or even careless for something like this to happen to you or a loved one. Sometimes, it just takes being a little distracted, tired, or trusting at the wrong moment, and bam! You're the next one on their list.

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If you care about your money and your privacy and want to keep it safe, you can’t just keep your information out there, circulating on the black market. And you could try your hand at removing it yourself... I tried it out, briefly. In fact, Incogni* has a list of companies on their site to get you started. Unfortunately, sending emails to these companies helps for a little while, but what I didn't realize until I joined Incogni, those companies put your info back online again after your initial request expires, plus, new public information sites are popping up daily, so there's no end to this madness!

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Just to share a bit about what you'll get if you want to try them out...Here is an example of one of my reports from when I first started in August 2024. Incogni* gives you updates as to how much work they are doing on your behalf, behind the scenes. Check out the 'Time Saved' number. This is how much time you would spend manually chasing down all of the places that have you name online in an attempt to remove it yourself.

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That’s why I turned over my online information removal task to Incogni*.

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They keep you informed with frequent updates, so you’re never in the dark. With Incogni, I don’t have to worry. I know they’re working hard in the background to keep my privacy safe and the fact that the scam calls almost completely stopped proves it.

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Whether you choose Incogni* or one of the other online companies that provide the same service, please take your privacy seriously. Don’t give scammers the opportunity to find your phone number online and try their tactics on you. Please protect your privacy and your money before it’s too late. Incogni* made it simple for me and my family to be safer (one of many protections that we need in today's world), and it can do the same for you.

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Now there are other simple, totally FREE ways you can start protecting your identity today that don't involve special skills or subscriptions. Things like updating your passwords, checking your credit report, and being a little pickier about what you share online can make a real difference.

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And if you want fewer marketers getting your info in the first place, here are a few websites to sign up for who can help: Just visit DMAchoice.org, OptOutPrescreen.com, or the National Do Not Mail List (DirectMail.com) to cut down on those endless offers.

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If you’ve made it this far in this email, You Rock! I know it’s a lot, but even taking just one of these steps can help give you extra peace of mind. If you have any questions, need more resources, or just want to share your own trials or tribulations with scammers/spammers, hit Reply. I’d love to hear from you.

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Here’s to keeping our info a little more private and our lives a whole lot less cluttered!