Key Takeaways
- Voice cloning scams can mimic loved ones, creating fake emergencies. Verify requests by calling back independently.
- Deepfake technology can manipulate reality. Always double-check shocking videos and news for authenticity.
- Phishing emails are now highly sophisticated. Be cautious of unsolicited requests and verify them through official channels.
- Prompt injection attacks can exploit AI systems. Businesses should regularly test AI and limit its access to sensitive data.
Imagine receiving a frantic call from your mother. She’s crying, her voice shaking: “I’ve been in a car accident. I need money now!” Your heart pounds—you don’t think twice. You send the money.
An hour later, your real mother calls. She’s fine. She was never in an accident.
What just happened? The answer is an artificial intelligence scam known as AI voice cloning.
Welcome to the era of AI-driven scams, where fraudsters don’t need to guess passwords or break into systems. They trick your senses, emotions, and instincts with hyper-realistic voices, videos, and messages.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, fraud cost Americans over $10 billion in 2023—the highest on record. A growing share of these scams are AI-powered, making them harder to detect than ever. The question is: would you be able to spot them?
Let’s break down the five most dangerous AI scams today—and, more importantly, how you can outsmart them.
5 AI Scams To Avoid
Scammers have always been quick to adopt new technology, and AI is no exception. Here are five AI-driven scams you need to know about and how to protect yourself.
1. Voice Cloning
As described in our introduction, voice cloning starts with a phone call. The voice on the other end sounds exactly like your friend, spouse, or child. In almost all cases, they’re in trouble or need assistance urgently. The voice would say they’re in the hospital, an accident, or any emergency that throws you off or gets your adrenaline pumping.
The scammers may plead with you not to tell anyone. You panic and send money, only to find out later that the person on the phone wasn’t your loved one. It was an AI-generated clone of their voice.
Scammers can create a convincing replica of someone’s voice with just a few seconds of audio, often pulled from social media platforms. The goal is simple: exploit your trust and emotions to get you to send money.
Real-Life Example:
In October 2024, scammers targeted Florida politician Jay Shooster’s family using an AI-cloned version of his voice. His father received a panicked call from “Jay,” claiming he had been in a car accident and needed $35,000 for bail. A follow-up call from a fake attorney added to the urgency. Luckily, Shooster’s sister recognized the scam before any money was sent. The voice clone was likely pulled from his campaign ads.
How to Spot Voice Cloning Scams:
- Call back on a known number. If someone calls asking for help, hang up and call them back directly.
- Listen for odd pauses or background noise. AI-generated voices sometimes have unnatural gaps in speech.
- Set a family code word. Share a specific phrase with your loved ones to use in emergencies.
2. Deepfakes
Deepfake technology creates realistic fake videos and images. Scammers use it to impersonate people or execute other forms of social engineering. They might fake a CEO announcing a major financial move, tricking investors into making bad decisions. Or they might impersonate a family member in a video call to ask for money.
Real-Life Example:
A UK-based energy firm lost $243,000 when criminals used deepfake technology to execute vishing by impersonating the CEO’s voice and ordering a fraudulent transfer. The scam was so convincing that employees followed instructions without question.
How to Spot Deepfake Scams:
- Look for unnatural eye movement. Deepfake videos often struggle to replicate natural blinking.
- Check the source. If you see a surprising video, verify it through trusted news outlets.
- Watch for distorted facial features. Deepfake technology can struggle with shadows and lip movements.
3. Phishing
AI has taken phishing scams to a new level. In traditional phishing, scammers send fake emails pretending to be from banks, government agencies, or companies like Amazon. Now, AI enables scammers to craft highly personalized and convincing emails that closely mimic legitimate communications, making them increasingly difficult to detect.
Real-Life Example:
In a 2023 study, researchers tested various phishing email strategies on 101 participants. They found that AI-generated phishing emails achieved a 54% success rate in getting recipients to click on potentially malicious links. This success rate matched emails crafted by human experts and far exceeded traditional “spray-and-pray” phishing attempts, which only achieved a 12% success rate.
How to Spot AI-Powered Phishing Scams:
- Scrutinize the sender’s email address: Ensure that the sender’s email address matches the organization’s official domain. Be cautious of slight misspellings or unusual domain names.
- Be wary of urgent or unusual requests: Scammers often create a sense of urgency to prompt quick action. If an email urges immediate action or requests sensitive information, verify its legitimacy through official channels.
- Look for Inconsistencies: Even well-crafted phishing emails may contain subtle errors or inconsistencies in formatting, logos, or language that can indicate fraud.
- Use advanced email security solutions: Employ email filtering and security tools that utilize AI to detect and block sophisticated phishing attempts.
4. Romance Scams
Online dating platforms have become fertile ground for scammers who exploit artificial intelligence to deceive unsuspecting individuals. These fraudsters establish seemingly genuine connections by creating AI-generated images and crafting compelling personas. Once trust is built, they fabricate crises such as medical emergencies or financial hardships to manipulate victims into sending money. Romance scams are also popular with fraudsters executing crypto scams or Telegram scams.
Real-Life Example:
In 2021, a widow in California was defrauded of over $200,000 in a romance scam. She believed she was communicating with a man overseas, but the individual’s photos and messages were entirely fabricated, likely utilizing AI-generated content. This case underscores the sophisticated methods scammers employ to exploit emotional vulnerabilities.
How to Spot Romance Scams:
- Be cautious of rapid declarations of affection: Scammers often profess love quickly to establish an emotional bond.
- Request video calls early: Insist on live video chats. Reluctance or excuses to avoid face-to-face interaction can be a red flag.
- Never send money: Regardless of the circumstances, avoid transferring funds to someone you haven’t met in person.
- Analyze profile photos: Use reverse image search tools to check if the photos are stock images or appear elsewhere online.
- Be wary of inconsistencies: Pay attention to discrepancies in their stories or reluctance to share personal details.
5. Prompt Injection Attacks
This scam is a little different. Instead of targeting individuals, it targets AI itself. Prompt injection attacks exploit vulnerabilities in AI systems by manipulating input prompts to achieve unintended behaviors. These attacks can lead to the AI revealing confidential information or performing actions outside its intended scope.
Real-Life Example:
In 2024, researchers discovered that ChatGPT, an AI language model, was susceptible to prompt injection attacks. By embedding hidden instructions within user inputs, attackers could manipulate the AI to disclose personal information or perform unauthorized actions. This vulnerability highlighted the need for robust security measures in AI systems.
How to Prevent Prompt Injection Scams:
- Limit AI access to sensitive data: Restrict AI systems from accessing confidential information to minimize potential exposure.
- Exercise caution with AI interactions: Avoid sharing personal or financial details with AI systems, especially those lacking robust security measures.
Conduct regular security assessments: Implement continuous testing and monitoring to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities in AI systems.
Closing Thoughts
AI scams are a strange mix of impressive and terrifying—like watching a magician pull off a trick you wish you’d never seen. While technology evolves, so do the scams, making skepticism a survival skill. The best defense? A healthy dose of doubt and a habit of verifying before trusting. Because in a world where AI can mimic voices, faces, and even emotions, the only thing it can’t fake is your common sense.
