Latest news with #SanFernandoValley
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Machine Gun Kelly dances with death in terrifying footage that will disturb despondent baby mama Megan Fox as her new fear is revealed
Machine Gun Kelly shockingly risked his life as he ran a red light while speeding on a motorcycle in Los Angeles this week. The musician, 35, stunned onlookers as he careened into oncoming traffic while making an illegal left turn in the San Fernando Valley on Thursday - with his terrifying brush with death captured in a video obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail.
CBS News
25-05-2025
- CBS News
LAPD in pursuit of driver in San Fernando Valley
Los Angeles police are in pursuit of a driver in the San Fernando Valley. It's unclear where the chase began. At times during the pursuit, the car could be seen driving at speeds up to 90 miles per hour on surface streets and even using the parking lot of a gas station to try and avoid officers.
The Independent
13-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
LA County wildfire alert mistakenly sent to millions due to tech glitch
A technological glitch caused an emergency alert to be mistakenly sent to millions of Los Angeles County residents in January rather than only those in the proximity of a wildfire, according to a congressional report. The mistaken alert on Jan. 9 came as residents were on edge two days after fierce winds and deadly wildfires ripped across Los Angeles County hillsides and burned through communities. The alert message was only supposed to go to residents in the San Fernando Valley facing an evacuation warning due to the Kenneth Fire. The report issued Monday by Democratic Rep. Robert Garcia of Long Beach found that Los Angeles County officials properly coded the alert to reach the wireless devices of a more limited group of people. But the alert was sent to residents across the county of 10 million people, and without specific geographic information, prompting concern and confusion after two days of devastating wildfires. That's because the coding for the precise location didn't get saved into the IPAWS federal channel for local emergency alerts, which software provider Genasys believed might be due to a network disruption, the report said. 'The initial false alert is believed to be caused by technology issues with third-party technology vendor Genasys,' the report said. The report did not address how emergency alerts were handled in the Eaton and Palisades fires. In the Eaton Fire in Altadena, evacuation orders went out long after houses were reported burning. LA County officials have launched their own independent review, led by a third party, of evacuation policies and the emergency alert system. An initial report released last month said nearly three dozen people who responded to the fires had been interviewed and more interviews were planned. The next report on the review is expected by July 27. In the Palisades fire, residents said they received notification about the blaze on their phones well after they could see it coming and decided on their own to leave, reporting by The Associated Press found. Garcia's report suggested that Los Angeles County officials could use more location-specific language in the text of warnings so residents know where they are intended for, and the need for enhanced training and standardized software to prevent issues like the faulty alert issued in connection with the Kenneth Fire. 'The lessons from the Kenneth Fire should not only inform reforms, but serve as a catalyst to modernize the nation's alerting infrastructure before the next disaster strikes,' the report said.
Fox News
10-05-2025
- Fox News
How SIM swapping led to a $1.8M cyber fraud case
A San Fernando Valley, California, man has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after orchestrating a massive fraud operation that targeted dozens of victims, many of them elderly. Oren David Sela, 36, stole mail, hijacked phone numbers through SIM swapping, and used victims' identities to drain bank accounts, stealing over $1.8 million. Here is how the scheme worked and what you can do to avoid becoming a victim of a similar attack. SIM swapping is a form of identity theft where a scammer tricks a mobile carrier into transferring your phone number to a new SIM card they control. Once they hijack your number, they can intercept text messages, including verification codes, and gain access to your bank accounts, emails and more. There are two common ways scammers pull off SIM swaps: Once they control your phone number, they can: SIM swapping turns your phone number into a master key for stealing your identity and money. Between November 2021 and October 2023, Sela stole mail from homes in Beverly Hills, California, and nearby neighborhoods. He collected personal information, including: Using this information, Sela carried out SIM swapping attacks to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA) protections. This allowed him to: Sela made hundreds of fraudulent withdrawals and transfers. He attempted to steal nearly $2.6 million and successfully stole at least $1.8 million. Sela often spent the stolen money on luxury goods, including a nearly $17,000 watch. In 2022, he was arrested in Beverly Hills and found with nearly $25,000 in cash, various pieces of expensive jewelry, and numerous fraudulent debit and credit cards belonging to elderly victims. Despite this arrest, Sela continued committing fraud. During two subsequent searches of his properties in 2022 and 2023, law enforcement discovered more than $70,000 in cash, stolen mail, fraudulent identification documents, and banking information linked to dozens of victims. In October 2024, Sela pleaded guilty to bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. On April 22, 2025, he was sentenced to 61 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1,818,369 in restitution. Two-factor authentication provides an extra layer of security, but it is only effective if the attacker cannot access your phone. When scammers hijack your phone number, they can intercept 2FA codes sent by text and quickly take control of your accounts. Once inside your email or banking app, they can: They do not even need your password if they can control your number. Take these important steps to secure your information: 1. Monitor your accounts: Regularly review your bank statements, credit card statements, and financial accounts for unauthorized activity. Report any suspicious transactions immediately. 2. Lock your SIM card: Set a PIN on your SIM card through your mobile carrier. Without it, your number cannot be moved without your permission. 3. Be cautious about sharing personal information: Limit the amount of personal information you share online, especially on social media. Scammers often use small details like birthdays, pet names, or locations to guess security questions or impersonate you. 4. Place a fraud alert: Contact one of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) and request a fraud alert. This makes it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. 5. Check your credit reports: Obtain free copies of your credit reports and review them carefully for suspicious activity. If you find errors or signs of fraud, report them right away. 6. Freeze your credit: A credit freeze prevents new accounts from being opened in your name without your consent. It is free to set up and does not affect your credit score. 7. Use an authenticator app, not SMS for two-factor authentication: Use apps like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator instead of relying on text message codes, which can be intercepted if your phone number is stolen. 8. Strengthen your passwords: Create strong, unique passwords for each account. Consider using a password manager to generate and store complex passwords securely. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2025 here. 9. Invest in identity theft protection: Identity Theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft. 10. Be cautious of phishing attempts and use strong antivirus software: Watch out for emails, texts, or calls asking for personal information. Always verify the source before providing sensitive details. Installing antivirus software on all your devices can help protect you by blocking malicious links, detecting phishing attempts, and stopping malware before it can steal your private information. Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices. If scammers can steal your phone number, they can steal your money, your accounts, and even your identity. SIM swapping is a serious threat because it gives criminals a shortcut around your strongest defenses. Take action today to protect your phone, your accounts, and your personal information. A few small steps can make the difference between staying safe and facing a devastating financial loss. Have you ever been targeted by a SIM swapping scam or identity theft? Let us know by writing us at For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Follow Kurt on his social channels: Answers to the most-asked CyberGuy questions: New from Kurt: Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
New York Times
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
David Oyelowo Considers Oprah ‘Chosen Family'
'Government Cheese' began as what David Oyelowo called 'a beautiful experiment.' He had long admired the fantastical storytelling of Wes Anderson and the Coen brothers. But he hadn't seen that applied to a Black family. Then the filmmaker Paul Hunter approached him about playing a version of his own father — an ex-con eager to reunite with his family and make his fortune — in a short film with absurdist elements set in the San Fernando Valley in 1969. Eventually they spun it into a television series for Apple TV+, taking care to leave that tone intact. 'We were very keen to make something that we knew might not be for everyone, but was very unique in its nature,' said Oyelowo, who is an executive producer on the show in addition to its lead. 'It's very rare that people of color get to make things where they are not feeling the need to explain their existence.' Oyelowo lives in the San Fernando Valley, where the series was shot, which meant there was little danger of violating the 'no more than two weeks apart' rule that he and his wife, Jessica, established early in their relationship. And which they've broken only once, by 11 hours. In a video interview, Oyelowo elaborated on why his rambunctious dogs, going to the movies and Oprah Winfrey are essential to his life. These are edited excerpts from the conversation. I was brought up in the church, but it never really meant much to me because I was sort of piggybacking my parents' faith. Then I had what can only be called a spiritual awakening at 16. And all of those stories that I grew up reading suddenly took on different meaning and have remained that way. It's where I learned the true definition of love. We've now known each other for 30 years. When we met, she was 17, I was 18, and she just hijacked my heart. There was a moment where I realized I couldn't picture a single day of my life going forward without her in it. Selfishness is an occupational hazard as an actor. But the greatest gift my kids have given me is selflessness. What being a father has afforded me is the opportunity to gain a new habit, which is to constantly be thinking about others. That's a mental health thing for me. I need to sweat. I need to get those endorphins going. I need to shake things up. I remember in playing Dr. King in 'Selma,' I had to gain about 30, 35 pounds, so I couldn't be in the gym for several months. I hadn't appreciated just how difficult it is to stay mentally sharp when you are not as physically active. We have a Bernese mountain dog, a Siberian husky and a Cavalier King Charles. They're too rambunctious. Two of them are very big, and I wish they didn't jump on us the way they do — but I also love the fact that they jump on us the way they do. Oprah and I met in 2011 during 'The Butler,' playing mother and son. I've lost both of my parents now, and they were massive in my life. Oprah has kind of become my chosen family, which has been a profound reality. I call her Mama, she calls me Son O. I just love the communal experience of going to the movies. Between being a storyteller and being a lover of community and being a real believer in the fact of the healing ability that story has as a mirror to humanity, I can't imagine my life without that privilege. It coincided with the #BringBackOur Girls movement for the Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped in Nigeria. As much as I love being a Nigerian, it's a very patriarchal society, and I'm a big believer that one of the ways to bring peace on earth is to have more female leadership. We started with three girls and we're now at 44 girls, and we pay for all of their education, all of their mental health needs, all of their menstrual health needs. That is where the contract between actor and audience is cemented. We are going to go on a journey together, and I am going to do everything I can to tell the truth. Giving a performance hundreds of times to an audience, you start to understand what it costs to tell the truth. I'm a bit of an A-type personality, but there is simply no way from a capacity standpoint that I could do as much as I'm doing without Darnell Rhea, who is carrying in her body about 25 to 30 percent of my brain. She is the GOAT. I've told Darnell that, at the very least, she has to give me seven years' notice if she's thinking of quitting because she's that good at her job.
