Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to bring incredible advancements to our everyday lives, from automating mundane tasks to enhancing healthcare and finance. But like any powerful tool, AI can also be misused—particularly by scammers looking to deceive people.
While it’s unsettling to think about, it’s important to stay informed about the ways in which AI can be used for scams. The good news? By understanding the tactics scammers use, you can take steps to protect yourself and those around you.
In this blog, we’ll explore some of the common ways AI is used in scams and, more importantly, how you can stay one step ahead.
1. AI-Powered Phishing: Trickier Than Ever
Phishing has been around for years, but AI has made it even more sophisticated. In a phishing scam, a scammer pretends to be someone they’re not—like a trusted company or even someone you know—to trick you into revealing personal information, such as your passwords or credit card details.
How AI is used: With AI tools like natural language processing (NLP), scammers can craft phishing emails or messages that are highly personalized and sound extremely convincing. AI can analyze your social media posts, email interactions, or online behavior to create targeted messages that seem legitimate. Imagine getting an email that looks exactly like it’s from your bank, with perfect grammar and personal details—this is the kind of threat AI phishing poses.
How to protect yourself:
- Be cautious of emails or messages that ask for sensitive information.
- Double-check the sender’s email address or phone number. Look for small differences, like unusual characters in the domain name.
- Don’t click on links or download attachments from unfamiliar or unexpected sources.
- If in doubt, contact the company directly using verified contact information.
2. Deepfakes: When Seeing Isn’t Believing
Deepfakes are another AI-powered tool that can be misused by scammers. A deepfake is a video or audio clip where AI has been used to convincingly mimic someone’s appearance or voice. While deepfakes have been used in entertainment and media, scammers can use this technology to impersonate individuals in harmful ways.
How AI is used: Scammers can create deepfake videos or voice recordings of real people—like CEOs, politicians, or even your friends or family—making it look like they are saying or doing things they never did. This can be used in fraud schemes, such as impersonating a company executive to convince employees to transfer money, or pretending to be a family member in distress to solicit funds.
How to protect yourself:
- Be skeptical of unusual requests, especially if they involve sending money or sharing sensitive information.
- Verify video or voice messages from friends, family, or colleagues using another method of communication (e.g., calling them directly).
- Stay informed about deepfake technology and the signs to look out for, such as unnatural facial movements or mismatched audio.
3. Fake Reviews and Social Media Scams
AI can also be used to create fake reviews or social media accounts that are designed to trick people into trusting a product, service, or even a fraudulent person. These scams can sway public opinion, promote fake businesses, or create fake personas that engage in more personal forms of deception.
How AI is used: Scammers can use AI to generate thousands of fake reviews that make a fraudulent service or product appear trustworthy. Similarly, AI can automate the creation of fake social media profiles, giving the appearance of legitimacy to deceptive businesses or individuals. These fake accounts can engage with real users, making connections and building trust before launching a scam.
How to protect yourself:
- Be cautious of overly positive reviews that seem too good to be true, especially if they lack specific details.
- Use review verification tools (such as FakeSpot or ReviewMeta) to check for fraudulent reviews.
- Verify social media profiles by looking at their history, follower count, and interactions. Brand-new profiles with few genuine interactions could be a red flag.
- If someone reaches out to you on social media with suspicious offers or requests, do some research before engaging.
4. AI in Financial Fraud: Fooling the System
AI is also being used to carry out financial fraud. Scammers can use AI to automate identity theft, credit card fraud, and even money laundering by manipulating financial systems in ways that are hard to detect.
How AI is used: AI systems can gather personal information from hacked databases or public records, and then use this data to impersonate individuals or steal from their accounts. In some cases, AI can create fake personas with full identities, using stolen data to open credit lines or apply for loans.
How to protect yourself:
- Monitor your bank accounts and credit reports regularly for any suspicious activity.
- Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all financial accounts to add an extra layer of security.
- Freeze your credit if you suspect that your personal information has been compromised.
- Report any suspicious activity immediately to your bank or financial institution.
5. AI Voice Cloning: Scammers Sound Just Like You
AI-powered voice cloning is another tool in the scammer’s toolkit. This technology can mimic someone’s voice with eerie accuracy, making it sound like they are speaking in real-time—even if they never actually said those words.
How AI is used: Scammers can use voice cloning to trick people into believing they are speaking to a trusted individual. For example, they could clone the voice of a family member or boss, calling someone and asking for a money transfer in an urgent, believable way.
How to protect yourself:
- Be cautious of urgent or unexpected requests that come from phone calls.
- If you receive a suspicious call, verify the person’s identity by calling them back using a known number.
- Use security phrases with family members for emergency situations.
How to Stay One Step Ahead
While the idea of scammers using AI might sound scary, there are steps you can take to protect yourself:
- Stay informed about the latest AI scams and techniques.
- Be skeptical of any message, email, or video that seems unusual or too good to be true.
- Use strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, and other security measures to safeguard your personal information.
- Always verify the identity of anyone requesting sensitive information, whether it's through email, phone, or social media.
Final Thoughts: Stay Informed, Stay Safe
AI is a powerful tool that can be used for good, but like any tool, it can also be misused. By understanding how scammers are using AI, you can better protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to these schemes. The key is to stay informed, stay cautious, and always verify the source of any suspicious communication.
Have questions about how to stay safe in the age of AI? Feel free to reach out to us for tips and advice on protecting yourself from scams in a digital world.
