Stay Alert This Holiday Season: Protect Yourself from AI-Powered Scams
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The FBI has issued a public service announcement warning that criminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) to orchestrate more sophisticated frauds. While AI can be incredibly useful, it is also being exploited by scammers to create highly convincing schemes that can be difficult to detect.
AI-Enhanced Phishing Attacks: A Growing Threat
Phishing scams, where criminals attempt to steal sensitive information for fraudulent purposes, are among the most common AI-enabled frauds. AI tools are now being used to generate content that appears authentic but is not. According to Eman El-Sheikh, associate vice president at the University of West Florida's Center for Cybersecurity, scammers can use generative AI to craft emails or messages that seem entirely legitimate.
"Previously, we would warn people to look for grammatical errors or things that sounded off. But now, with AI, these scams can be incredibly convincing," explained Shaila Rana, a cybersecurity professor at Purdue Global. Although AI has made phishing attacks harder to detect, subtle signs such as misspelled domain names or distorted logos can still indicate a scam.
Protect Yourself with a Secret Code Word
One of the newer scams to emerge involves AI-generated voice cloning. Scammers can use a few seconds of your voice—often pulled from social media—to create convincing audio messages. This tactic is often employed in "grandparent scams," where a fraudster poses as a family member in distress, urgently requesting money for a supposed emergency.
Rana recommends setting up a secret code word with your loved ones. If someone calls claiming to be a family member in need, ask for the code word. If they can't provide it, hang up and call the person back on their actual number.
Limit Your Digital Footprint
Social media platforms provide a wealth of personal information that scammers can use to impersonate you or your loved ones. To prevent this, experts recommend making your social media accounts private, removing sensitive details such as phone numbers, and being cautious about what personal information you share.
"Public profiles make it easier for scammers to learn about you and use that information to their advantage," warned Michael Bruemmer, head of the global data breach resolution group at Experian.
Watch Out for Fake Websites
Scammers are also leveraging AI to create fraudulent websites that mimic legitimate ones. These fake sites often promote cryptocurrency scams or other fraudulent investment schemes. The FBI suggests checking for signs of a secure connection (such as "https://") and ensuring the website's domain is spelled correctly. If you're uncertain about a website's authenticity, you can use a WhoIs lookup to check the age of the domain. Newly created sites with familiar names, like "Amazon," should raise red flags.
Be Cautious of AI-Generated Media
Generative AI tools are increasingly being used to create fake images and videos to trick people into sending money. This could involve fake disaster footage or deepfake videos of celebrities promoting fraudulent products or services. Always scrutinize any media that prompts you to send money, looking for signs of manipulation such as unnatural facial expressions or mismatched audio and video.
As we navigate this AI-driven world, it's essential to stay vigilant, especially during the busy holiday season when scams tend to rise. By taking simple precautions and staying informed, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from these evolving threats.
Written by Dev Anand from Funnel Fix It Team
