The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that scams starting on social media have proliferated during the pandemic. Scammers are hiding out on social media and using ads and offers to attract their next unsuspecting victims. Some pose as legitimate online sellers but never deliver the items for which they’ve been paid. Others deal in romance scams or phony offers of financial help such as grants or other pandemic-related relief. These types of scams are after money, personal information, or both. How does it work? Scammers can hide behind phony profiles on social media. They can take over an account or join a virtual community you trust to encourage you to trust them. But you can make it harder for scammers to target you with these strategies: Review your social media privacy settings and limit what you share publicly. Before you buy based on an ad or post, check out the company. Type its name in a search engine with words like “scam” or “complaint.” If someone appears on your social media and rushes you to start a friendship or romance, slow down. Do some reading about romance scams. If you get a message from a friend about a grant or financial relief, call them. Did they really send that message? If not, their account may have been hacked. Check it out before you act. If you spot a scam, report it to the social media site and to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/.

		Lonely Planet Ready to go on vacation again? Explore this site for the latest travel news plus inspiration on where to go and when. Learn more…		Accuweather This resource has it all — radar and maps, videos, severe weather warnings, and your local forecast and air quality. Learn more…		On This Day Calling all history buffs! Find out what key events in news, entertainment, and sports took place on this day in past years. Learn more…

		Question: I’ve heard of disposable email, but don’t understand its purpose. Why would I want to use it? Answer: Disposable email — also called temporary, throwaway, or burner email — is a typically free email service that allows you to receive email at a temporary address that expires after a certain period of time elapses. People use disposable email for a variety of reasons. The main one is to avoid spam that can fill up the inbox of your primary email account. Many forums, websites, and blogs ask visitors to register before they can view content, post comments, or download information. A disposable email account will allow you to sign up and verify your registration without exposing your primary email account to spam or having it publicly available online. Another reason you may want to use disposable email is when you want to sign up for a special offer with a retailer you’ve never shopped with before. You can use disposable email to get the one-time discount or gift, without having to sift through a deluge of marketing content in your primary email account for months to come.

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		BZ Reminder Remember to download this to-do list app. It’s easy to use and flexible, and will help you stay better organized. Learn more…		Property Brothers Home Design In this fun game, Drew and Jonathon Scott need you to help clients achieve their home design dreams. Learn more…		PlantSnap What is that? Snap a photo and this app will identify plants, flowers, succulents, and mushrooms in seconds. Learn more…