The first year of Donald Trump`s second term has had a profound effect on Canada, from its politics and economy to the way Canadians shop and travel. Read...

Wellington Phoenix will be without CJ Bott when they travel to face Canberra United. Read...

US travel restrictions include heavy visa bonds, suspended applications and straight-up travel bans. Read...

Wellington Phoenix will be without CJ Bott when they travel to face Canberra United. Read...

Beware of text messages with promises to win or a call to action! Because it is precisely messages like these that repeatedly lead to unexpected costs on your mobile phone bill. If you reply carelessly or contact a specified number, you can quickly fall into an expensive trap. We explain below which types of text messages are particularly risky and how you can protect yourself against them. These text messages are aimed at your money Not every text message is for information purposes. In particular, messages with alleged prizes, vouchers, or urgent instructions often have a clear aim: to trigger a quick response. A short reply or a callback is often enough to trigger costs. Formulations that create time pressure or suggest urgency are typical. Examples include messages such as “Last chance to confirm,” “Your prize expires today,” “Please reply immediately,” or “Act now to avoid costs.” Such statements are intended to tempt recipients to respond quickly without checking the content or possible costs. It is precisely this pattern that makes such text messages particularly dangerous. Promises of prizes are the most common lure Travel vouchers, special prizes, or exclusive benefits are among the most popular lures. The text messages appear serious, mention well-known brands or suggest a benefit that has already been won. To receive the alleged prize, recipients are asked to contact a specific number or reply by text message. These are often special numbers or premium services for which a charge is made. Numbers with the dialing codes 0900, 0137, or 0180 in particular are often associated with high per-minute charges. The costs are incurred immediately and only appear later on the mobile phone bill. Many people only realize that they have been ripped off when they receive their bill. Is SMS advertising even allowed? Unsolicited advertising text messages are generally not permitted, under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). Electronic mail includes not only SMS, but also MMS, emails, and RCS messages. Advertising messages via messenger services such as Whatsapp are also covered by this regulation. If advertising is sent without consent, this constitutes unreasonable harassment of consumers and is illegal. If there is no consent, those affected can demand that the sender refrain from sending further messages. In many cases, consumer centers and courts see this as a clear breach of competition law. The provisions of the Telecommunications Act also apply. If such a text message mentions telephone numbers or requests recipients to call back, the costs incurred must be clearly stated. What you should do if you are affected If you have received a suspicious text message, you should not reply under any circumstances and should not contact any of the numbers provided. Keep the message and document the sender and content. You should report violations to your mobile carrier. These measures protect against SMS cost traps Ignore text messages with promises to win or urgent requests. Never click on links contained in such messages and do not download any files from them. Before responding, check that the costs are clearly and unambiguously stated. Set up a block for premium text messages with your mobile phone provider. Use spam filters or the blocking functions for unknown numbers on your smartphone. Related content How to avoid being scammed by a toll-collection SMS and similar smishing attempts This ethical hacker’s one tip changed how I think about digital scams Be careful! That legit PayPal email might be a phishing scam Read...

The FLNKS said earlier this week it would not travel to Paris for the roundtable. Read...

A proper fast-charging power adapter is one of those essentials you shouldn’t overlook. Right now, the Ugreen Nexode model is currently 40 percent off, the best deal we’ve seen so far, bringing the price down to $33.24 at Amazon. View at Amazon It’s not just that this charger is fast, it also features four ports all your gadgets. There are three USC-C ports and one USB-A, giving you plenty of ways to charge everything from your laptop to your smartphone, earbuds, and smartwatch. If you’re only using a single port, the top two USB-C ports can deliver up to 100W, perfect for your laptop. If all ports are in use, the top port maxes out at 45W, the second at 30W, and the other two deliver 10.5W each, so you’ll need to be mindful which cable goes to which device. Built with GaN technology, the charger outperforms older power adapters by being smaller, faster, and more efficient. Its foldable plugs make it ideal for travel, as the prongs won’t catch, bend, or break. Grab the Ugreen Nexode charger for $33.24 before this deal ends. Charge four gadgets at once with this 40% off power adapterBuy now at Amazon Read...

Revolut launches RevPoints in New Zealand, offering uncapped rewards on everyday spending redeemable for travel, airline miles and gift cards. Read...

Travel agents warn that many are unaware of the change, which will come into effect from next month. Read...

When you’re at home, using longer USB cables makes perfect sense. But when you’re out and about? Those longer cables can easily get tangled, wrapping around your devices and sustaining damage from sharp bends and yanked ends. For portable charging and data transfers, what you want is a retractable cable—and today’s a great day to grab one because this 100W retractable USB-C cable is only $10 on Amazon now. View this Amazon deal The coolest part about this cable is, of course, its fully retractable design that allows it to be packed away neatly without tangling. You can adjust the 3.3-foot cable to your desired length by pulling on either side, providing for utmost flexibility in any charging scenario. There are four preset lengths, ranging from 1.1 feet to 3.3 feet. Weighing just 50 grams, its compact and lightweight build makes it an ideal travel companion. Just throw it in your bag or backpack and be on your way without worrying about the cable getting damaged. Despite its small size, this cable supports up to 100W of power delivery, meaning you can use it to fast-charge compatible phones, laptops, tablets, and more. The cable also supports data transfers at up to 480 Mbps, making it perfect for moving files between devices. Get this 100W retractable USB-C cable for $10 before this deal expires. It’s speedy and versatile and well worth it with this discount! Save 23% on this fast-charging Baseus retractable USB-C cableBuy now at Amazon Read...