Prevent tech support scams

Plus: Find your singing voice

View this email online Today’s newsletter is brought to you by digital editor Malaka Gharib No matter how old you are, you can fall prey to a scam, says Amy Nofziger, director of fraud victim support for AARP.  But if you're over the age of 60, you may be more likely to get scammed -- and lose big money. According to a report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, people in this age group filed the most complaints -- and lost the most money to fraud out of any age group in 2023: $3.4 billion.  Over half the losses for older people were due to tech support scams, according to the F.B.I. In these schemes, fraudsters make you believe you have a computer problem -- and ask you to pay for tech support services you don't need. (The Federal Trade Commission has great tips on how to avoid these types of scams.)  If you're worried about scams in general and would like to take measures to prevent them from happening to you, listen to Life Kit's popular episode on the topic. It offers practical measures you can take to prevent fraudsters from siphoning your money.  I don't want to get scammed Moor Studio/Getty Images Here are a few practical tips you can take to prevent tech support scams:  📱Set up your phone to decline calls from unknown numbers To reduce your chances of answering phone calls from scammers who purport to be tech support, go into your phone settings and select the option to send unknown callers to voicemail. "That means that anybody that is not in your contacts that calls you will go directly to voicemail," says Nofziger. "If it's important, [the caller] will leave a voicemail." 💳 Use your credit card whenever possible "Your credit card company has a level of protection that the banks don't seem to give," says Kelly Richmond-Pope, a forensic accounting professor. So if you're swindled into paying a tech support scammer, and you used a credit card, the most you'll be liable for is $50, according to the FTC.  🛡️Download the latest security updates Those nudges you get from your computer or phone to install the latest security update? You should download those. Updating your software regularly helps ensure your devices are protected against security threats, according to the FTC. 🔑 Use strong passwords or passphrases for your accounts. If you gave a tech support scammer your password, change it right away. Longer than a password, passphrases should be strong and unique for each site. Don't use 1234. Bring some randomness and special characters into it. And don't use the same password for different websites: You don't want all your accounts to be compromised just because one gets hacked. (Here are more useful tips on how to protect your personal data and online privacy.)  Newsletter continues after sponsor message We asked, you answered: How new parents show intimacy without sex Photo illustration by Becky Harlan/NPR Last month, we published a story about how new parents can show intimacy in the postpartum period. Even though many doctors give the birthing partner the all-clear to have sex four to six weeks after giving birth, many may not feel ready. But that doesn’t mean you can’t show love in other ways, says Aaron Steinberg, a couples coach who teaches expecting parents how to “babyproof” their relationships.  We asked our audience: How did you and your partner stay romantically connected during the postpartum period? Tell us the playful, creative ways you showed love and intimacy when sex wasn’t always an option.  Here's what some of you had to say. These responses have been edited for length and clarity.  Date nights go a long way  One of the things that helped us the most was going out and spending the night elsewhere every now and then. These little times alone away from everything helped our marriage tremendously. --J. Marcelo “BeeZee” Baqueroalvarez Text each other  [In the postpartum period, my partner and I] texted like teenagers all hours of the day: silly, heartfelt and thoughtful pictures, hilarious quotes and videos, with no obligation to view them or respond. Remember, your partner is not only your lover and the parent of your child, but also your best friend. You can still share humor and feel that joy you felt passing notes in the second grade. You’ll get back to normality eventually, but until then, try texting -- it saved us. --Marnie McCasland Be intentional about spending time together  My partner and I struggled with this but we made time to talk to each other and hear out what each person needed. Spending family time together, going on walks, making time for dinner dates or relaxing together when the kids went to bed helped us feel connected again. And expressing gratitude! --Elisa Gunn Thank you to everyone who responded to our question.  Listen Sponsor-Free Support public media while getting expert advice on health, finance, relationships and more with Life Kit+. You'll get sponsor-free listening AND that warm fuzzy feeling that comes with making a difference. You can also check out loads of other NPR+ podcasts with benefits at plus.npr.org. Explore Life Kit+ This week on Life Kit Find your singing voice. When some of the greatest singers are Whitney Houston, Ariana Grande or Beyoncé, it's easy to feel like being a good singer is just a dream. But you don't need to be a Grammy-level artist to have fun at karaoke or sing along to the radio in the car. These tips will help you find your voice. Read the story here. Overwhelmed by your smartphone? Try a boring phone.Your phone is designed to suck you in. You might use it to check the weather or look up directions, only to find yourself doomscrolling on social media. If you're worried about your screen time or find it difficult to unplug, switching to a simple phone could help, says Jose Briones, author of Low Tech Life. Devoid of distracting apps and features, these phones are basic and boring — which is exactly what you might want in a device you carry around all day. Listen to the episode here. What happens after someone cheats. The pain of infidelity in a romantic relationship can often break a couple apart — but the decision to stay or go is rarely a simple one. In this episode of Life Kit, psychologist and affair recovery specialist Talal Alsaleem answers your questions about cheating, infidelity and affairs. We cover everything from how to spot red flags to how to rebuild trust if you choose to stay together. Listen to the episode here. Stream your local NPR station. 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