How AI Is Fueling a Rise in Scams, and Tips to Protect Yourself

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many areas of daily life, from healthcare and education to business and communication. It can all be a little overwhelming. But alongside its benefits, AI has also become a powerful tool for scammers, making fraud more sophisticated, personalized, and difficult to detect. In fact, AI experts say sometimes even they have trouble distinguishing between legitimate information and material generated by AI!

The surge in AI-powered scams is creating new risks for consumers, businesses, and even governments—and staying informed is key to staying safe. Researchers say almost half of Americans have been the target of an AI scam. While the methods used by scammers will continue to change, this information will give you an overview of what to be on the lookout for.

The AI-Driven Scam Surge

Scammers have always adapted to new technologies, but AI has significantly raised the stakes. With access to generative AI tools, fraudsters can now mimic human language with uncanny accuracy and create fake identities in seconds, allowing them to quickly automate and scale up their operations. What used to take hours or days can now be accomplished in minutes—with far more convincing results.

Voice cloning, deepfake videos, and AI-written messages—now common features in scams—enable bad actors to manipulate trust and emotions more effectively than ever before. Criminals are exploiting these tools not only to deceive individuals but also to target entire organizations. And older adults can be at increased risk because they tend to be more trusting and less familiar with technology.

Common AI-Enhanced Scams

• Voice-Cloning Scams
  One of the most alarming developments is voice cloning. Using just a short audio clip—often taken from social media or voicemail—AI can replicate a person’s voice. Scammers use these cloned voices to call loved ones, claiming the caller is in trouble and asking for urgent financial help. Because the voice sounds real, victims are more likely to believe the story. Grandparents have been tricked into thinking a grandchild is in danger and giving up money to try to help them.
• Phishing Emails and Chatbots
  AI-generated phishing emails are more sophisticated and harder to detect than traditional spam. These messages are often free from grammatical errors and are tailored to the recipient’s interests, making them appear legitimate. Some scams even use AI chatbots to engage victims in real time, posing as customer service agents or company representatives.
• Deepfake Videos and Social Engineering
  Deepfakes—AI-generated videos that replace someone’s likeness—are increasingly being used in scams. For instance, a deepfake of a CEO could be used to trick employees into wiring money to a fraudulent account. These scams combine AI with social engineering tactics, exploiting trust within organizations. Celebrities ranging from Taylor Swift to Tom Cruise have been simulated in deepfake videos.
• Romance and Investment Scams
  Scammers now use AI to create attractive fake profiles and generate emotionally resonant messages for romance scams. In parallel, AI bots also impersonate financial advisors or crypto experts in online forums to lure victims into fraudulent investment schemes.

There are steps you can take to help minimize your risk of falling victim to fraud.

How to Avoid Becoming a Victim

• Be Skeptical of Unexpected Communications
  If you receive an urgent message, whether it’s a voice call, email, or text, take a moment to verify. Contact the person or organization through trusted channels.
• Limit Personal Information Online
  Be careful about publicly sharing personal details, photos, or voice recordings—scammers can use this material against you. Adjust your privacy settings on social media and think twice before posting.
• Use Multi-Factor Authentication
  Secure your accounts with two-factor or multi-factor authentication (MFA) to make it harder for scammers to gain access, even if they have your login details.
• Stay Educated and Aware
  The landscape of scams evolves quickly. Regularly update yourself and your family members about the latest tactics being used by fraudsters.
• Verify With a Human
  If something seems off, especially when money is involved, verify in person or through a video call. Don’t rely solely on text, email, or voice communication.

As AI continues to evolve, so will the tactics of scammers. Awareness, caution, and proactive security measures are the best defenses against this new generation of fraud.

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