Editor's note: Today in the Chaikin PowerFeed, we're turning things over to our friend Sean Michael Cummings... Regular readers will recognize Sean. He's an analyst at our corporate affiliate Stansberry Research. We've previously shared insights from him here at the PowerFeed.

Editor's note: Today in the Chaikin PowerFeed, we're turning things over to our friend Sean Michael Cummings... Regular readers will recognize Sean. He's an analyst at our corporate affiliate Stansberry Research. We've previously shared insights from him here at the PowerFeed. Today's essay from Sean originally published in the January 20 edition of Stansberry's free DailyWealth e-letter. In it, Sean discusses a troubling rise in scamming and cybercrime – and a step to take to prevent yourself from becoming a victim... How to Protect Yourself and Profit From the 'Deepfake' Future By Sean Michael Cummings, analyst, Stansberry Research Welcome to the golden age of scamming... Last month, the IRS reported that financial crimes in 2025 totaled $10.6 billion. That's a 15.7% increase from 2024. And it only accounts for fraud the IRS knows about. The number is likely much higher. Cybersecurity firm BioCatch found that fraudulent activity surged 168% year over year in the first half of 2025 alone. The reason isn't hard to spot. Today, it's trivially easy to create convincing "deepfakes" using artificial intelligence ("AI"). Images, voices, and even real-time video can be faked with alarming accuracy. In short, it's easier than ever to warp the truth online – and riskier than ever to trust what you see on a screen. But today, there are a few simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from the "deepfake future." And for investors paying attention, this breakdown in trust is creating clear, investable opportunities. Let me explain... Recommended Links: TODAY: Stansberry's No. 1 Recommendation for 2026 It has already risen 185% through THREE major crashes... beat the S&P 500 Index last year, with less risk than stocks... and massively outperformed in the tariff crash. Now, with the markets on a knife-edge, five senior experts are stepping forward with all the details from our corporate affiliate Stansberry Research. Before 10 a.m. Eastern time today, click here to learn more. Today, Keith Kaplan Is Closing the Doors Until midnight tonight, you can claim one FREE year of the "Green Day" system and essentially six free months of Trade Cycles as part of a special invitation. It's a new system with an underlying product that could help you double your portfolio by foreseeing the biggest jumps on 5,000 stocks, to the day, with 83% back-tested accuracy. It booked 13 gains of 100%-plus in 2025. Doors close on this offer at MIDNIGHT tonight. Until then, click here for the full details. A recent viral video by 3D-artist Eder Xavier shows just how far deepfake technology has come. Using AI, he posed as various cast members from Netflix's hit show Stranger Things. Take a look... What's more unsettling is that Xavier doesn't just create picture-perfect digital impersonations. He also explains how easily anyone can replicate it at home. I've written in the past about the cybercrime renaissance... Two years ago, a group of scammers used deepfake technology to trick a finance employee in Hong Kong into wiring them $25.6 million in company funds. At the time, I flagged cybersecurity as an essential theme as proving online identity becomes harder. And the implications of the "scam economy" go well beyond a bull run in cybersecurity stocks... As trust collapses, companies are racing to rebuild it. Biometrics and blockchain-based identification systems may become the norm for online businesses – like Sam Altman's World crypto, which ties biometric data to a digital registry. But even as solutions emerge, fake experts and misinformation will flourish... This is an alarming concept. But it's bullish for one industry: legacy media brands. We'll likely see a rising premium on reporting standards, judgment, and expertise. It may even spill into the physical world... As web interactions become less reliable, in-person presence becomes more valuable. Face-to-face meetings could soon become the ultimate proof of identity. That would lead to an air-travel boom... and soaring airline stocks. The zero-trust online future will look very different from the web we know today. But this shift isn't just about investing themes. It's also personal... That's why I encourage you to protect yourself and your family by adopting a simple verbal passphrase. Anytime you make a sensitive request over the Internet or phone, use these passphrases to prove your identity. It may sound overly cautious. But in a world where anyone's voice or face can be faked, simple safeguards matter. The golden age of scamming is here... But you don't have to be a victim. Take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones today. And position your portfolio for a world where trust is no longer free. Good investing, Sean Michael Cummings   Editor's note: Stansberry Research is gearing up to share its "Game Plan 2026"... Later this morning, five of the firm's most respected analysts will unveil their biggest buy call of the year. They'll also discuss a complete game plan for 2026. Plus, they'll even name their top individual stock ideas... 100% free of charge. It all kicks off today at 10 a.m. Eastern time, and it's free to attend. Reserve your spot here. Market View Major Indexes and Notable Sectors     # Hld:     Bullish     Neutral     Bearish Dow 30 +0.64% 7 19 4 S&P 500 +0.51% 112 269 119 Nasdaq +0.44% 24 54 28 Small Caps -0.31% 649 946 294 Bonds +0.48% — According to the Chaikin Power Bar, Small Cap stocks are more Bullish than Large Cap stocks. Major indexes are mixed. *  *  *  * Sector Tracker Sector movement over the last 5 days Energy +3.21% Materials +2.77% Communication +2.26% Health Care +1.52% Consumer Staples +0.82% Information Technology +0.32% Consumer Discretionary +0.02% Utilities -1.2% Industrials -1.51% Financial -1.89% Real Estate -2.35% *  *  *  * Industry Focus Biotech Services 60 77 9 Over the past 6 months, the Biotech subsector (XBI) has outperformed the S&P 500 by +38.94%. Its Power Bar ratio, which measures future potential, is Very Strong, with more Bullish than Bearish stocks. It is currently ranked #7 of 21 subsectors. Top Stocks ANAB AnaptysBio, Inc. ACAD ACADIA Pharmaceutica ALKS Alkermes plc *  *  *  * Top Movers Gainers ANET +5.41% DDOG +5.0% BKR +4.4% AKAM +3.77% STX +3.52% Losers TTD -7.5% INTC -5.72% DRI -4.72% STLD -4.41% ARE -4.24% *  *  *  * Earnings Report Earnings Surprises STLD Steel Dynamics, Inc. Q4 $1.82 Beat by $0.13 NUE Nucor Corporation Q4 $1.73 Missed by $-0.08 BRO Brown & Brown, Inc. Q4 $0.93 Beat by $0.03 WRB W. R. Berkley Corporation Q4 $1.13 Beat by $0.01 *  *  *  * You have received this e-mail as part of your subscription to PowerFeed. If you no longer want to receive e-mails from PowerFeed, click here. You're receiving this e-mail at katzronnie7@gmail.com. For questions about your account or to speak with customer service, call +1 (877) 697-6783 (U.S.), 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Eastern time or e-mail info@chaikinanalytics.com. Please note: The law prohibits us from giving personalized financial advice. © 2026 Chaikin Analytics, LLC. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, copying, or redistribution, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from Chaikin Analytics, LLC. 201 King Of Prussia Rd., Suite 650, Radnor, PA 19087. www.chaikinanalytics.com. Any brokers mentioned constitute a partial list of available brokers and is for your information only. Chaikin Analytics, LLC, does not recommend or endorse any brokers, dealers, or investment advisors. Chaikin Analytics forbids its writers from having a financial interest in any security they recommend to our subscribers. All employees of Chaikin Analytics, LLC (and affiliated companies) must wait 24 hours after an investment recommendation is published online – or 72 hours after a direct mail publication is sent – before acting on that recommendation. This work is based on SEC filings, current events, interviews, corporate press releases, and what we've learned as financial journalists. It may contain errors, and you shouldn't make any investment decision based solely on what you read here. It's your money and your responsibility.