Scammers Up Their Game With AI: Part 2

Scammers are getting smarter, using AI to create emails, calls, and texts that closely mimic real, trusted sources. This growing use of artificial intelligence makes their messages harder to detect and easier to fall for. In part two of our scammers and AI blog series, we share four tips to protect yourself and your data from AI-driven scam attempts.

Protect Yourself From AI-Driven Scams

• Be skeptical of unsolicited messages. If you receive an email, text, or call from a company or person you don’t recognize, verify its authenticity before responding. Do this by contacting the company or person directly using official channels.
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA). Constantly using MFA on every website you visit may cause some frustration, but it’s nothing compared to the frustration you may experience if your identity or money is stolen. Even if scammers steal your password, they’ll need an additional verification step to access your accounts.
• Verify identities. If someone claims to be a friend, boss, or family member requesting money, first verify their identity through another channel, such as a phone call or video chat.
• Look for red flags. AI-generated scams often contain small inconsistencies, such as unnatural speech patterns in voice messages, slight facial distortions in deepfake videos, or unusual grammar in AI-generated texts. Trust your instincts and independently verify whenever you can.

To stay safe from AI-driven scams, it’s essential to stay alert, question unexpected messages, and verify identities through trusted channels. Using tools like multi-factor authentication and watching for subtle warning signs can greatly protect your information and finances. Trust your instincts—when in doubt, take the time to double-check. If you missed part one, make sure to go back and check out this quick read where we share just exactly how scammers are using AI.