Internet scams are not new, but they are changing as technology evolves. Advances in artificial intelligence have made scams easier to perpetrate and harder to spot.
Whatever method scammers use, the goal is to steal your money, your sensitive information or both. That can include usernames, passwords, credit card numbers, bank account information or other important personal data.
Historically, phishing attacks occurred via email or instant message. Today, they happen across a range of channels, from SMS text messages to phone calls to QR codes. As technology has changed, more variations have come about, including vishing, which happens over the phone, and smishing, which happens over text.
Internet scams are a global problem, but you don’t have to fall for them. Here’s what to watch for to help protect yourself.
AI Scam Calls and Messages
Scams take many forms. Deepfake videos can impersonate celebrities, politicians or other public figures. AI voice clones can mimic a phone call from a loved one. Meanwhile, phishing emails or smishing texts will try to convince you to log in somewhere or click a link you shouldn’t.
A good rule of thumb is to be suspicious of any message that asks for money, gift cards or cryptocurrency, or that claims you have a speeding ticket or an arrest warrant. If the message demands payment urgently, that’s a major red flag.
Is It an AI Scam or Is It Real?
If you’re questioning whether a phone call is legitimate, hang up. Find the organization’s number on its official website and call to verify whether anyone legitimately contacted you.
If a text, email or social media message contains a link, don’t click it. If the message claims to be from your bank or credit card company, go to the company’s official website or app and check for yourself whether the claim is true.
Examine the message closely. Are there spelling or grammar mistakes? Does it use a capital “I” in place of a lowercase “l”? Does the email address use “rn” (an “r” and an “n” with no space) in place of an “m”?
A family code word or emoji is a simple way to verify an emergency. If someone claims to be a loved one in trouble, ask for the code. The key is to keep it secret within your trusted circle.
Some of the tells of an AI-generated video are unnatural facial movements, odd blinking and lips that are out of sync with the audio.
Protect Yourself From Phishing Scams
If you think something is off, trust your gut.
Banks and credit card companies generally won’t ask you for your login details, according to the FBI.
Using multifactor authentication on your most important accounts can provide an extra layer of protection. Also, keep your software up to date on all your devices.
You can report a suspected scam to your bank, local authorities or the Federal Trade Commission on their website.
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