Avoiding Accidental Deposit Scams, Maximizing Phone Storage, and Unleashing the Power of BenQ's PD 3225U Monitor

We will talk about another rising trend that is not a good one. It's called an accidental deposit scam. These scams involve fraudsters using mobile payment apps to trick users into sending them money, and they're becoming far too common. So, how do these scams work? Well, let's say you receive money through a payment app like Venmo or Cash App from someone you don't know. Then you start getting messages from them saying they made a typo, sent you money by accident, and they're asking you to please send it back. You might think, how could it be a scam if someone is sending me money? But here's the catch. The money accidentally sent to you was likely from a hacked credit card or bank account.

Subscribe to the weekly tech newsletter at https://gregdoig.com

Transcript

Wondercraft AI: 0:04

Hey there tech enthusiasts, welcome to another sip of tech knowledge on Tech Brewed, your go to spot for all things tech. So grab your favorite mug and let's dive in together. Cheers to learning something new.

Greg: 0:15

We're going to talk about another rising trend and this is not a good one. It's called accidental deposit scams. These scams involve fraudsters using mobile payment apps to trick users into sending them money and they're becoming far too common. So how do these scams work? Well, let's say you receive a sum of money through a payment app like Venmo or Cash App from someone you don't know. Then you start getting messages from them saying they made a typo, sent you money by accident, and they're asking you to please send it back. You might think, how could it be a scam if someone is sending me money? But here's the catch. The money accidentally sent to you was likely from a hacked credit card or bank account. Before the scam begins The fraudster hacks into someone's financial accounts. They then create a fake profile on a payment app and use the stolen funds to send a deposit to a random person who uses these apps. The scammer then tries to convince the target to return the money. But when the bank or payment app discovers the scheme, they'll eliminate the deposit into the target's account. And while the target might think they're just returning the money, they're actually depositing their own funds into the scammer's account. And if the target keeps the money from the scammer, well it's technically considered stolen goods. So what should you do if a stranger sends you money and requests you to return it? Never send money to someone you don't know through a payment app, even if they sent you the money first. Instead, contact the payment app directly and don't communicate with the sender. The app or bank will reverse the charge if it was truly an accident. Or remove the deposit from your account if it was a scam. Expect the scammer to sound increasingly desperate and even vicious. They might call you names, tell you stories about being short on rent, or having kids depending on them, or try to get you to call or text them. But it's best not to respond at all. Let the payment app figure out the situation. Remember, if a thief drops a stolen bag of jewels down your chimney, You're not the legal owner of those jewels. The same goes for the accidental deposit scams. You're the recipient of stolen goods. If you keep the scam money in your account, the app or bank will most likely remove it eventually. And if you spend it before the bank flags the suspicious activity, You might be expected to hand over an equal amount of money when the scam is uncovered. Of course there are instances where an accidental deposit really was just an accident. But instead of investigating the trustworthiness of the person on the other end, let the app handle it. If you think an accident occurred, tell the stranger to contact the app's customer service, and contact customer service yourself to explain the situation. Then stop communicating with the other person, is they may continue to try to manipulate you if it's a scam. So there you have it, folks, the lowdown on accidental deposit scams. Stay vigilant. Trust your instincts and let the payment apps do their job. Let's talk about storage on iPhones. Are you constantly battling the storage almost full notification on your iPhone? Well, you're in luck, because today we're sharing five essential tips to you to help you manage your iPhone storage like a pro. If you're ready, let's dive in. Tip one, offload unused apps automatically. Keep your iPhone clutter free, enable the offload unused apps feature. This nifty setting automatically removes apps you haven't used in a while, but keeps all the associated data and documents. When you need the app again, simply tap its icon to re download it from the App Store. To turn this on, head on over to Settings, then look for App Store, then look for Offload Unused Apps, and take care of what you need there. Tip 2, Manually Offload Apps. For more storage over which apps to offload, do it manually. First visit Settings, then look for General, then iPhone Storage. Tap on the app you want to offload, then select Offload App. The app's icon will remain on your home screen with a small cloud icon indicating that it's been offloaded. Tip 3. Optimize Photo Storage Photos and videos can take up a massive chunk of your iPhone's storage. To save space, enable Optimize iPhone Storage in your photo's settings. This feature keeps lower resolution versions of your images on the device. while storing the full resolution originals in iCloud. To activate this, you're going to go to Settings, then Photos, then toggle on Optimize iPhone Storage. Tip 4. Clear Browser Cache Over time, your browser accumulates cache, which can eat up valuable storage space. Clearing Safari's cache is simple. Go to Settings, Look for Safari, then tap Clear History and Website Data. For Chrome users, open the app, navigate to your privacy settings, and clear your browsing data there. Tip 5, Review and Delete Large Files and Apps. Regularly check which apps and media files are hogging your storage. Go to Settings, then look for General, then look for iPhone Storage to see a breakdown of your storage usage. From there, you can decide which large files or apps to delete or offload to free up space. music ends And there you have it, five tips to help you manage your iPhone storage effectively. Remember, a well managed iPhone is a happy iPhone. If you're tired of juggling files and apps to avoid the dreaded storage space running out notification, here are five tips for you that will help you optimize your storage. Ready? Let's go. Tip one, use Google's Files app. Google's Files app is a fantastic tool for keeping your storage in check. It helps you clean up space with recommendations. Find files faster and even share them offline with others. Download it from the Play Store and use it regularly to clear out junk files, duplicate images, and large downloads. Tip 2. Streamline your photos with Google Photos. Photos can be one of the biggest storage hogs. Google Photos offers unlimited high quality photo and video backups, which means you can safely remove them from your device storage. Just go to Google Photos app, tap on Settings, and then Backup and Sync to ensure your memories are safely stored in the cloud. Tip 3, Manage Downloaded Files Don't let downloaded files accumulate. Periodically go through your Downloads folder and delete anything you no longer need. You can access this folder through the Files app or by connecting your device to a computer and manually removing unwanted items. Tip 4. Clear App Cache and Data Cached data from your apps can take up more space than you think. To clear an app's cache, go to Settings, Apps Notifications, then See All Apps. Tap on an app, then select Storage Cache, then hit the Clear Cache. If you need more space, you can choose Clear Storage. But be aware this will reset the app to its original state. And tip 5. Utilize microSD cards and cloud services. If your device supports microSD cards, take advantage of this feature to expand your storage. Move photos, videos, and even some apps to the card to free up internal space. Additionally, leverage cloud services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive to store documents and other files. And there you have it. Five actionable tips to help you master storage management on your Android device. Keep these in mind and you'll never have to compromise on what you keep on your phone. This tech tip is for those out there shopping for a new monitor and have been eyeballing the Apple Studio Display but just can't afford it at this time. Ben q. A company that makes monitors has released a fairly new 32 inch monitor. It's called the Ben Q pd 3 2 2 5 U as in uniform. This monitor is positioned as a more budget friendly option for users seeking a high quality 4K display compatible with MacBooks. The pricing for the Ben QPD 32 25 U is fairly straightforward, and this is as of April of 2024. The standard retail price for the monitor is 1, 099. 99. This monitor is available directly from BenQ on their website and retailers like Amazon, B& H Photo and others. There are no additional costs for different stand options or screen finishes with the BenQ model as the built in stand supports easy adjustment, whereas the Apple studio display. has a 5k retina display and offers a more premium experience but it comes with a higher price tag and several customization options. The base price for the studio display with a tilt adjustable stand is 1, 599 and an upgrade to a tilt and height adjustable stand increases the price by 400 which brings you real close to 2, 000. Choosing the VESA mount adapter option maintains the base price. Of 15. 99 adding nano texture glass to any of the stand options adds another 300 to the cost. But of course, Apple offers financing through their Apple card. Occasionally, the studio display may be found on sale with prices starting lower than those mentioned at the retail price. But for consumers looking to save money, the BenQ PD3225U presents a clear and consistent pricing structure. Without the complexity of multiple add ons or configurations. Its price of 1099. 99 is significantly lower than the starting price of the Apple Studio Display, and it includes features that cater to professional creative work. In contrast, the Apple Studio Display offers a premium experience with customizable options that can significantly increase the price. The base model starts at 1599 with potential additional costs for stand upgrades. and nanotexture glass taking it way beyond the price of the BenQ model. For budget conscious buyers who prioritize value and essential professional features, the BenQ PD3225U is a compelling choice. However, for those who prefer a monitor that aligns with the Apple ecosystem and offers customizable features, the Apple Studio Display is an option, albeit At a higher cost. I hope you enjoyed this episode of Tech Brewed with our host Greg Doig. Please share and subscribe to the podcast and sign up for the free weekly tech newsletter at gregdoig. com. Until next time, stay techie.