Why Yankees ace Cam Schlittler is in the AL MVP conversation and could join an exclusive club

If you shoot for the moon, you will land among the stars. In Cam Schlittler’s case, however, he and his blazing fastball may take him past the stars and straight to the moon.

The New York Yankees ace has been nothing short of dominant this season. The swashbuckling 25-year-old is all but a lock to win the American League Cy Young Award.

But why stop there? He should win the American League MVP too. Schlittler should become just the 12th player in MLB history to win the Cy Young and MVP in the same season.

Heading into his final start of the year against the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday, Schlittler leads all American League pitchers in ERA (1.94) and is tied for first in WHIP with Drew Rasmussen (0.91). He has been durable, making all his starts, and is second in the AL in innings pitched (190 2/3).

With a devastating combination of cutters, sinkers and fastballs, the young right-hander has racked up 234 strikeouts, third in the AL behind Cleveland Guardians ace Gavin Williams (244) and likely Cy Young runner-up Dylan Cease (239).

Schlittler has set a Yankees franchise record by allowing one or no runs in 21 starts this year. He became just the third pitcher age 25 or younger in the live-ball era, which began in 1920, to achieve the feat, joining Dean Chance (1964) and Blake Snell (2018).

Schlittler also leads the AL in bWAR with 7.0, ahead of other MVP contenders such as Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez (6.6), Kansas City Royals star Bobby Witt Jr. (6.5) and Rays phenom Junior Caminero (5.6).

The numbers for Schlittler are outstanding, but they don’t tell the full story.

Schlittler has been the pillar of the Yankees' pitching staff, which leads all of baseball with a 3.21 team ERA.

While the pitching staff has been fantastic, it has have dealt with plenty of injuries to the starting rotation.

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Gerrit Cole didn’t make his season debut until May 22, as he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. Carlos Rodón began the season on the IL after undergoing surgery to remove a bone spur and loose bodies and didn’t debut until May 10. That was just his first stint on the IL. He returned to the IL on July 3 and didn’t come back until Aug. 18.

Rodón was not the only Yankees ace to land on the IL twice, as Max Fried did as well. Fried first went on the IL with a left elbow bone bruise on May 13, right after Cole returned, and was activated on July 22. He went on the IL for a second time on Aug. 17 with the same injury and returned Aug. 29.

Ryan Weathers, who had been key in stepping up during the absences of Cole, Fried and Rodón, went on the IL on Aug. 23 with a left forearm flexor strain.

For the Yankees, not only was it paramount that Schlittler make every start, but it was also essential that he remain dominant to help keep the rotation afloat.

Adding to the pressure on Schlittler and the pitching staff as a whole, the Yankees’ offense cratered after Aaron Judge was placed on the IL at the beginning of June. Since June 1, the Yankees have hit a paltry .229 with a putrid .297 on-base percentage.

The Yankees’ offensive ineptitude put further pressure on Schlittler and Co. to win games without Judge.

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In 2023, the Yankees’ season went off the rails when Judge suffered a torn ligament in his toe. They went 25-31 without the captain and missed the postseason. The Yankees’ pitching staff in 2023, led by Cole, who won the AL Cy Young Award that season, had a 3.97 ERA, which was not enough to save the Yankees from finishing 82-80.

In 2026, the Yankees went 48-41 without Judge in the lineup, buoyed by the pitching staff’s excellence. Carried by the Schlittler-led pitching staff, the Yankees made the postseason and secured home-field advantage in the American League Wild Card Series.

While the Yankees didn’t catch the Tampa Bay Rays and win the American League East, they might have missed the postseason entirely if it weren’t for Schlittler.

By the award’s definition, Schlittler has been the most valuable player on his team.

Alvarez has been dominant in his own right. The hulking left-handed hitter, with a .316 batting average, 41 home runs and 102 RBI made a bid for the Triple Crown, but that seems out of reach.

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Alvarez has been primarily a designated hitter, filling that role in 131 of the 154 games he played this season. Shohei Ohtani is the only player to win an MVP as a primary designated hitter, and he did so after becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season.

Unless Alvarez surges to win the Triple Crown, nothing he is doing this season is unprecedented or historic.

Alvarez’s Astros, who are 78-80, might miss the postseason despite playing in the American League West, a division that has been historically bad.

Bobby Witt Jr. has been his usual superstar self but missed 11 games due to injury and has also taken a slight step back from last season while playing for the AL Central-worst Kansas City Royals.Caminero, the linchpin of the AL-leading Rays’ lineup, trails Schlittler in bWAR by more than a full win. Still, his .274 average and 41 home runs leave him in the thick of the AL MVP race.

Despite the excellence of Alvarez, Witt and Caminero, Schlittler should become the first pitcher since Justin Verlander in 2011 to win the American League MVP.

Verlander, like Schlittler this year, led the American League in bWAR with 8.6.

Without Schlittler, the Yankees do not survive Judge’s absence. When the Yankees could hardly scrape together three runs a game in the dead of summer, Schlittler made sure it was enough to hold on.

Without Schlittler’s dominance and durability, the Yankees do not have the second-best record in the American League (91-67).

Without Schlittler, Yankees fans are in a complete state of panic because they might still be trying to secure a Wild Card berth in a weak American League.

At the sportsbooks, Schlittler is a long shot to win the American League MVP. But odds be damned, the award should be his. He has landed on the moon.

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Husband charged with murder after realtor wife found shot dead inside home in wealthy Virginia county

A Northern Virginia real estate agent was shot and killed allegedly by her husband inside their home Tuesday, triggering a multi-state manhunt that ended hours later with his arrest in Pennsylvania, authorities said.

Roger Bradford, 60, of Aldie, was charged with first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in the death of his wife, 54-year-old Lisa Bradford, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies were called to a home in the 24000 block of Quimby Oaks Place shortly after noon after a relative contacted authorities, reported that Bradford was allegedly involved in his wife's death and asked them to check the home, Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said during a news conference Tuesday.

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When deputies arrived, they found Lisa Bradford dead. Her husband had already left in a rental car.

Investigators tracked the vehicle as it traveled north, launching a search that stretched through Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

ACCUSED KILLERS VANISH AFTER FAMILY MASSACRE BEFORE MANHUNT ENDS HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY

Pennsylvania State Police located Bradford and took him into custody in Bedford, Pennsylvania, at about 3:15 p.m., roughly three hours after deputies first responded to the home, FOX 5 DC reported.

Authorities believe the shooting was domestic in nature, though investigators had not yet determined whether there had been previous domestic incidents involving the couple.

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"We just don't know," Chapman told reporters.

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A handgun was used in the killing, but authorities had not recovered the weapon as of Tuesday afternoon.

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Investigators still had extensive searches to conduct at the couple's home and of the rental vehicle Bradford allegedly drove after the killing.

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"We're still in the infancy of this case," Chapman said.

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No one else was believed to have been inside the home at the time of the shooting.

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The couple's three children — two attending college and another enrolled at a local high school — had been notified of their mother's death.

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Bradford also has some prior criminal history, though Chapman could not immediately provide details.

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Lisa Bradford was a full-time Northern Virginia real estate agent who had been licensed since 2008, according to her Compass profile.

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She graduated from Miami University and spent a decade working for Ford Motor Company before beginning her career in real estate.

Roger Bradford remained in Pennsylvania pending extradition to Virginia. The sheriff's office said there was no continuing threat to the public.

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Jon Sumrall shares hilarious response to hearing his Florida team is favored against Ole Miss

The Florida Gators welcome the Ole Miss Rebels to Gainesville on Saturday afternoon, and while Florida head coach Jon Sumrall is confident in his team's ability to upset the No. 4 team in the nation, that doesn't mean he has to agree with what Vegas is saying ahead of the monster SEC match up.

During his Monday press conference, Sumrall reflected on the Gators' 44-39 win on the road at Auburn before turning the page to what will be his first primetime match up while manning the sideline in The Swamp with the Rebels in town.

When a reporter indicated that Florida was favored in the game as of Monday afternoon, he looked to his right before delivering a funny, yet also authentic reaction.

"Who has us favored against these guys?" Sumrall asked the room.

When the reporter indicated that it was Vegas that had the Gators favored, Sumrall joked that "there are a lot of good drugs out there."

Florida is 3-0 on the season and will welcome Ole Miss to town having just jumped into the AP Top 25 Poll at No. 21, but it is quite clear that the sportsbooks see Saturday's contest as a major letdown spot for a Rebels team removed from taking down LSU at home in one of the most emotional games you'll ever see.

If you believe in trap games, this is as trappy as they come.

It's not an easy task for a team to come off such an emotional high like Ole Miss experienced against LSU, immediately put it in the rear-view, and turn the focus to what will be a mighty stiff test against a Florida team looking to enter the contender conversation playing on its own turf.

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One could argue that Ole Miss owns the strongest resume in all of college football thus far, with a win over Louisville in a neutral-site game to begin the season and then an eight-point victory over Lane Kiffin and the Tigers. The Rebels are also led by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who could be the clubhouse leader for the Heisman Trophy, and who has his offense clicking at a dangerous level.

Speaking of the Heisman, Florida running back Jadan Baugh may be a main character in that conversation sooner rather than later.

Florida's offense has been elite through three games this season as well, scoring 66 points against FAU, 52 points against Campbell, and then hanging 44 points on Auburn on the road against what many believe is a well-above-average Tigers defense.

One thing is for sure, and that is Sumrall or the players inside his locker won't be buying into the idea that Ole Miss is going to enter The Swamp feeling like an underdog after the performance the Rebels put together against LSU in Week 3.

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Caleb Williams avoids major hamstring injury as MRI reveals a strain but no tear after Vikings game scare

The most important MRI in the history of the Chicago Bears (maybe) returned good news on Monday because quarterback Caleb Williams avoided a major injury.

A source tells OutKick that Williams has a strained hamstring injury and that he is not expected to miss significant time following a major scare during Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Williams has what is being described as a Grade 1 hamstring strain.

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That means he may miss between one and three weeks while he rehabilitates. Bears coach Ben Johnson told ESPN1000 in Chicago on Monday he expects Williams to be "week-to-week."

Netflix Sports reported the Bears have not ruled out Williams for next Monday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The source told OutKick that was a "very optimistic" outlook.

What is realistic is that Williams avoided a full detachment of his hamstring, which was the fear after he went down untouched during a scramble out of the pocket in the game against the Vikings.

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But the player's reaction was not indicative of the injury's seriousness, apparently.

Not even close, apparently.

His hamstring remains completely attached and structurally intact.

Williams was heard screaming as he lay on the turf and was eventually carted off the field amid the fear it could be his last time in uniform this season.

Williams, who has suffered and overcome hamstring issues in the past, is expected to begin a rehab program as early as Monday.

The Bears will go with backup quarterback Tyson Bagent in the games Williams misses, coach Ben Johnson said on Sunday.

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Kevin Costner sparks romance rumors after grocery run with lifestyle coach

Kevin Costner sparked romance rumors when he was spotted out shopping recently.

The 71-year-old "Yellowstone" star was photographed shopping at a local Albertsons in Santa Barbara, California, with a woman the Daily Mail identified as 40-year-old lifestyle coach Jennifer Milburn.

The pair were photographed smiling as they walked down the aisles of the grocery store and through the parking lot together, taking turns pushing the shopping cart around.

Costner kept it casual in a pair of white jeans and a white collared shirt, which he paired with flip-flops and black sunglasses.

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Milburn opted for a pair of cutoff denim shorts and a long-sleeve white button-up shirt, which she paired with brown sandals and sunglasses. She wore her long blonde hair in a ponytail.

Fox News Digital has reached out to a representative for Costner for comment.

Before stepping out with Milburn, Costner sparked romance rumors with country singer Jewel in December 2023, when photos obtained by TMZ showed her speaking into a microphone and appearing to sit on Costner’s lap, with his arms around her waist.

The "Horizon: An American Saga" star cleared up the rumors during an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show" in June 2024, explaining the photos were taken on Richard Branson's private island, Necker Island, and that he didn't know she was going to be there until he got on the plane.

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"No, Jewel and I are friends. We've never gone out ever. She's special, and I don't want, I don't want these rumors to ruin our friendship because that's what we have," he said. "She's special to me. She's beautiful enough to go out with." 

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Costner was married to Christine Baumgartner for 18 years before she filed for divorce in May 2023, citing the date of separation as April 11.

The former couple share three children together: Cayden, Hayes and Grace.

"It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action," Costner's rep said at the time.

"We ask that his, Christine’s and their children’s privacy be respected as they navigate this difficult time."

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The handbag designer took Costner to court over child support and the validity of their prenuptial agreement. The former couple eventually agreed to joint legal and physical custody, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.

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DHS chief fires back at Jayapal over claim majority of immigration arrests pose 'no threat'

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin pushed back on Rep. Pramila Jayapal’s, D-Wash., claim that the "majority of people" arrested by DHS pose "absolutely no threat to public safety."

Mullin rejected Jayapal’s characterization on "Saturday in America," saying DHS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) remain committed to targeting high-risk individuals to keep American communities safe and arguing that crimes committed by illegal immigrants have led to tragedy.

"If we're going to have national security in this country, we [need to] know everybody that's entered this country. And so, I'm not going to release you back into the public once we know that you entered this country legally," Mullin said. "It's time for you to go home."

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"All the angel families that lost their loved ones at the hands of an illegal is 100% preventable, because that illegal shouldn't be in our country to begin with," the DHS boss added.

Jayapal, the ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Immigration, Integrity, Security, and Enforcement and a vocal ICE critic, argued that immigration enforcement under the Trump administration has targeted immigrants without criminal convictions.

"For the first time this summer, the majority of people that DHS arrested were people who pose absolutely no threat to public safety, and the number of people with criminal convictions who are arrested by ICE actually decreased — decreased, not increased," Jayapal said during a hearing last week.

"That’s because when DHS expends all of its energy to go after parents, longtime friends, neighbors, when [Homeland Security Investigations] agents who are supposed to investigate serious crime and human trafficking are instead being moved to street sweeps and riding along with local police for random traffic stops, we are less safe, not more safe," she added.

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DHS SECRETARY BASHES NEW YORK LEADERSHIP AFTER ANNOUNCING THOUSANDS OF ARRESTS IN SWEEPING OPERATION

ICE arrested nearly 51,000 illegal immigrants nationwide in August, marking the highest monthly total on record, according to DHS. The department also says ICE has deported more than 2,000 known or suspected terrorists since Trump took office.

"When you have a car accident, and you came… into this country legally, and the Democrats want to say, you're not a criminal and you kill somebody. Yes, you were a criminal and now… you ruined somebody else's life, and now you're a murderer at the same time," the DHS chief said.

"It's political for them. They want to say this every day," he added.

DHS regularly publicizes arrests and deportations involving illegal immigrants convicted of crimes including murder, child pornography, sexual assault and drug trafficking.

"When you decide you're going to break our immigration policies, and you're going to cut the line, you're going to step across our southern border, you're going to step across our northern border. You're still a criminal. We’re still gonna arrest you," the DHS chief said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jayapal’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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Scammers are buying Google ads to steal bank logins

You need to check your bank account, so you open Google, type in your bank's name and click the first result that looks right. Most of us have done some version of that without thinking twice.

Now federal investigators say criminals turned that everyday habit into a way to steal bank logins and drain accounts. The Justice Department announced on Sept. 8 that a Russian web developer accused of helping run a large bank account takeover operation had been extradited to the United States. Prosecutors say the group bought sponsored search engine links that sent banking customers to fake login pages. Victims then entered their credentials, believing they had reached their bank.

That should get the attention of anyone who banks online. Here's how the scam works, why those sponsored results can look so convincing and what you can do to avoid handing your bank login to a criminal.

ASKED SIRI TO CALL YOUR BANK? A SCAM COULD COST THOUSANDS

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According to federal prosecutors, the alleged operation used spoofed domains that mimicked websites belonging to federally insured financial institutions. The conspirators then bought sponsored search engine links. Those links could appear when someone searched for their bank.

A click sent the customer to a fraudulent login page. Once victims entered their credentials, the attackers could capture that information. Prosecutors say the group then used the stolen credentials to access real bank accounts, check balances and initiate unauthorized wire transfers.

The indictment also alleges that Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov developed and maintained infrastructure supporting the operation. That included databases storing more than 5,000 stolen login credentials and software designed to capture sensitive authentication data.

The newest Sept. 8 Justice Department announcement says the conspirators purchased sponsored search-engine links. It does not name a particular search engine. However, the DOJ previously described the same bank account takeover operation when it seized the group's backend domain in December 2025. In that announcement, investigators specifically said the criminal group delivered fraudulent advertisements through search engines including Google and Bing. The ads imitated sponsored search ads used by legitimate banks.

Victims who clicked those ads were redirected to fake banking websites controlled by the criminals, according to the DOJ. That earlier investigation had identified at least 19 victims across the United States by December 2025. The DOJ reported approximately $28 million in attempted losses and about $14.6 million in actual losses tied to those victims.

Microsoft told CyberGuy that it has policies and detection mechanisms designed to help prevent misleading advertising. The company said that when it becomes aware of ads that violate its policies, it takes action to remove them and uses what it learns to strengthen its detection capabilities. Microsoft also encourages users to report suspicious ads through its "Report a Concern" form. We also reached out to Google for comment but did not hear back before our deadline.

FAKE PATIENT PORTAL SCAM CAN STEAL YOUR LOGIN AND INFECT YOUR PC

The trap works because a paid search result can appear in a place many of us naturally look first. You search for your bank. A result appears near the top. The wording looks familiar, so you click before studying the address. Most search ads are legitimate.

Still, the FBI warns that criminals can buy ads that imitate real businesses and direct users to convincing phishing sites. The FBI refers to this tactic as SEO poisoning in its account takeover guidance. That changes how I would approach something as sensitive as online banking. In fact, the FBI specifically recommends using bookmarks or favorites to reach login pages rather than clicking search results or advertisements.

This problem stretches far beyond one alleged criminal operation. Since January 2025, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center has received more than 5,100 complaints reporting account takeover fraud. Reported losses have exceeded $262 million.

Criminals use several ways to get inside accounts. Fraudulent banking websites remain one of them. The FBI says victims can encounter a phishing site after clicking a fake search advertisement. Attackers may also try to obtain a one-time passcode if an account uses multifactor authentication.

Once criminals gain access, they may move money to accounts they control. That can make recovery difficult, especially when funds move quickly.

The latest development centers on Sergei Anatolyevich Filimonov, 36, a Russian national and web developer. A federal grand jury indicted Filimonov on Nov. 4, 2025. Authorities later extradited him from the Republic of Georgia.

You do not need to stop banking online. However, changing how you reach your bank's login page can lower your risk.

SHOULD YOU USE A SEPARATE COMPUTER FOR ONLINE BANKING?

If you already have your bank's verified app installed, open it directly rather than searching for your bank in a browser. That removes the search-result step where this particular scam tries to catch you.

Visit your bank's verified website and save it as a bookmark or favorite. The FBI specifically recommends bookmarks or favorites for financial login pages instead of relying on search results or advertisements.

Take a second to inspect the domain before you enter banking credentials. A fake site may use a misspelled address or another small change designed to look legitimate. The FBI warns that fraudulent search ads can lead to URLs that closely resemble the real address. Microsoft also advises users to carefully review website URLs before entering credentials or other personal information online.

A "Sponsored" label means someone paid to place the advertisement. So when money or sensitive information is involved, verify the destination yourself before you sign in.

Enable two-factor or multifactor authentication if your financial institution offers it. However, do not let that give you a false sense of security. The FBI warns that MFA may not protect you after you land on a fraudulent login page. Criminals can also use social engineering to try to obtain your one-time code. Never give a one-time passcode to someone who contacts you unexpectedly.

YOUR BANK MAY STOP TEXTING YOU SIX-DIGIT CODES

A trusted password manager can help because it associates your saved login with a particular website. If your password manager normally fills your banking credentials but suddenly does not, stop before typing them manually. Check the address first. We've previously explained how password managers can provide another clue when you land on a spoofed login page.

Strong antivirus software can add another layer of protection if you click a malicious search result. It may warn you about known phishing sites, block dangerous downloads and stop other threats before they reach your device. However, no security software can protect you if you willingly enter your banking credentials on a convincing fake site, so always check the web address first. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

Set up alerts for activity such as withdrawals and new logins if your bank offers them. Then review unexpected activity immediately. The FBI recommends regularly monitoring financial accounts for unauthorized transactions.

Identity theft protection can help monitor for signs that your personal information is being misused. Some services can alert you to suspicious activity involving your credit, financial accounts or personal information and provide recovery assistance if fraud occurs. This will not stop a fake bank ad, but it can give you another way to spot trouble after your information has been exposed. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com

If you think you entered your credentials on a fake banking page, contact your financial institution immediately using a number you trust. Then reset the exposed credentials. If you reused the same password on another account, change it there as well. The FBI also recommends reporting fraudulent wire transfers to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. Acting quickly may improve the chances of stopping or reversing a transfer.

What gets me about this scam is how normal the first step feels. You want to check your balance, so you search for your bank and choose a result that appears legitimate. There may be no strange email waiting in your inbox. You did not respond to an unexpected text. You started the search yourself. That can make the trap much harder to recognize. For banking, I would skip search results altogether. Use your bank's official app or a bookmark you have already verified. Then take a moment to look at the address before entering anything sensitive. A few extra seconds can be a lot easier than trying to recover money after it has left your account.

Have you ever clicked a sponsored search result because you assumed Google had already verified the company behind it? Would this warning change how you log in to your bank? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com

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