Shut down AI impersonation scams

Businesses around the world are embracing generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Described very simply, AI is technology that is able to learn and adapt. AI is used today in all sorts of innovative ways — to power chatbots, translate languages, edit photos and videos, and more.  

Unfortunately, scammers are also using AI to innovate. In a survey by Feedzai, 92% of financial institutions reported seeing AI used for fraud. Often this takes the form of impersonating a loved one to urgently ask for money.  

AI can make impersonation scams extremely convincing. But you will find that scammers still reveal themselves in old familiar ways.  

What an AI impersonation scam might sound like  

You receive a call from an unfamiliar number. You hear the unmistakable voice of your grandson on the other end of the line. He has just been involved in a car accident! If you send $1,000 in gift cards right away, he explains, everything will be okay. “Please don’t tell Mom and Dad,” the caller says. “I don’t want them to worry.”  

Types of AI impersonation scams  

Scammers can impersonate a loved one using:  

• Voice cloning: Using a snippet of audio and AI tools, scammers create a convincing copy of a person's voice. In a global survey by McAfee of 7,000 people, one in four had either encountered one of these voice cloning scams or knew someone who had.  
• Deepfakes: Scammers can also use AI tools to create photos or video clips that show a person saying or doing something they did not (and might never) do.  

Signs of an AI impersonation scam  

When a phone call, video chat, or other communication seems unusual, stay alert for these red flags:  

• An urgent request for money that you were not expecting (especially via wire transfer, gift card(s), payment app, or cryptocurrency)  
• Strange or awkward language that might remind you of a chatbot  
• Signs that suggest a video has been manipulated. According to the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, these can include:  
  • Jerky or unrealistic movements  
  • Shifts in lighting or skin tone  
  • Strange blinking or no blinking  
  • Shadows around the person’s eyes  

Strategies to shut down AI impersonation scams  

Start with what you know to be true. If you receive a frantic call from a loved one and the number is unfamiliar, try calling them at their usual phone number. Or try calling a different family member or friend who may be in touch with them.  

Another strategy is to ask a question that only your actual loved one would be able to answer. Just like a security question you use to retrieve a password, the answer should be specific, memorable, and difficult to guess. For example: 

• What is your oldest daughter’s middle name? 
• What were the make and model of your first car? 
• In what city did your parents meet? 

Similarly, you can create a code word that you keep secret among friends and family. When in doubt, you can ask for the code word to verify a caller’s identity. 

As with any scam, pausing before taking action is one of your best defenses. Scammers rely on making you feel as though you have no choice but to act right away. When you slow down to think, research, and ask questions, you can derail even sophisticated AI scams.