Yes, scams are indeed becoming more sophisticated. With the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI), scammers can now create fraudulent emails, text messages, and phone calls that seem very realistic and convincing. With AI, personalized phishing emails can be whipped up in seconds, and voices can be cloned to impersonate loved ones or trusted individuals. This evolution makes spotting scams even more challenging, especially for those more trusting.
These scams can look like:
Scammers now use AI to refine every aspect of their deceit. Messages are not only well-written but also tailored to the recipient’s behavior or personal data. Logos, layouts, and entire websites can be copied to mirror legitimate organizations accurately. Even more concerning, AI can generate realistic voices and video deepfakes, allowing scammers to impersonate colleagues, relatives, or authority figures in real-time, making fraudulent communication feel incredibly real.
If you get a message or call about money, an account problem, or something urgent, pause.
If anything seems suspicious, go directly to the company’s official website or call them using their verified number. If you receive a phone call, hang up and call the company’s official line yourself. Don’t click on any links in the message.
A lot of scams include links that look real but aren’t. Clicking them could:
Type the web address yourself or use a bookmarked page you trust.
You don’t have to do it all yourself. Let your devices help you!
Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. When in doubt, ask a friend or look it up before responding.