📅 Midwest PROTECH Tips & Tricks
📅 Tips & Tricks – TGIF Edition
Friday, November 14th, 2025
Holiday shopping season is here — let’s stay safe out there! 🎁🛡️
New Tips & Tricks added on Mondays and Fridays at 12:00 PM
🧠Tip of the Week: Is That Holiday Deal a Scam? Here’s How to Tell
Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Holiday “flash sales.”
Scammers LOVE this time of year — and they know you're hunting for bargains. Before you click “Buy Now,” here’s how to stay protected:
✅ If it looks TOO good… it’s probably fake.
A $299 laptop for $49? A brand-new iPhone for $99? Nope — those are bait-and-switch scams designed to steal your info or money.
✅ Stick to trusted retailers.
Check that the site uses https://, look for the padlock icon, and verify the URL (scammers change one letter — amaz0n, walrnart, etc.).
✅ Avoid non-refundable payment methods.
Never pay scammers’ favorite ways: gift cards, Venmo/Zelle to strangers, wire transfers, or crypto payments.
Use credit cards — they offer fraud protection.
✅ Watch for fake ads on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Nextdoor.
Holiday season brings a surge of fake product ads and phony “closing warehouse” sales. If the retailer barely exists online, walk away.
✅ Check return policies — real stores always have one.
Scam stores hide return info, offer no customer service, or disappear after the holidays.
💡 Extra Tip for Businesses
Warn your team about seasonal phishing. Scammers send fake “holiday gift cards,” “shipping updates,” and “employee bonus emails.”
A 5-second pause to verify saves hours of cleanup.
🎉 Bonus Humor...
Why did the scammer love the holidays?
Because everyone was already in the buying spirit! 😆🎁
📎Bonus Tips & Tricks – Holiday Quick Checks 🎄
🛒 Compare prices at 2–3 retailers before buying.
🔐 Use a password manager for safer autofill checkout.
🧹 Clear saved cards from old or unused shopping sites.
Your referral is the highest compliment you can give us. Thank you for your continued support! 🙏
📣 If you’ve made it this far, please send me a quick message 💬 or drop an email ✉️ to confirm you’re viewing our online Tips & Tricks! rod@midwestprotech.com
Your feedback keeps this series alive 🔥 and helps us know you’re tuning in.
Yours in tech,
–Rod
⚠️⚠️ Windows 10 Users — Important ⚠️⚠️
If you’re still running Windows 10, it’s time to take this seriously. Microsoft officially ended support on October 14, 2025, which means no further security updates, patches, or compatibility fixes will be provided.
🚨 What This Means for You
- Security Risks: Without updates, your system becomes a prime target for cyberattacks, ransomware, and data theft. Hackers know which vulnerabilities exist — and they’ll exploit them.
- Software Failures: Popular business applications, such as QuickBooks, Microsoft Office, payroll tools, and antivirus programs, are already phasing out support for Windows 10. Soon, updates and features will cease to function.
- Compliance Issues:Businesses in regulated industries (like healthcare, finance, or retail) risk non-compliance if they continue using an unsupported operating system.
- Hardware Limitations:Many older computers can’t run Windows 11 efficiently — meaning now is the time to plan for an upgrade or replacement.
💡 What You Should Do
Midwest PROTECH recommends transitioning to Windows 11 Pro now to avoid downtime and security risks. We can handle the entire process — from hardware recommendations to setup, optimization, and data transfer — so you can focus on running your business.