AI can now clone a loved one’s voice with exceptional accuracy (often using just a few seconds of audio scraped from online sources). Scammers use it to impersonate family members in distress, tricking victims into sending money during fake emergencies.²

Precautions to take:

Set up a family safe word for real emergencies, and never act based on a voice alone. If something feels off, hang up and call the person back using a number you know is real. Ask a personal question only they would know.

What to know:

Scammers can fake what shows up on your caller ID. It’s called spoofing. Just because it looks like a call from your bank or a family member doesn’t mean it actually is.

AI-generated videos and photos can now make it look like someone said or did something they never actually did.³

From fake celebrity endorsements to political misinformation, deepfakes are being used to deceive. They’re getting harder to spot.

Precautions to take:

If a video or image seems off, don’t react right away. Cross-check with a trusted source, look for coverage from credible outlets, and avoid sharing emotionally charged content until it’s verified.

What to know:

Deepfakes often rely on urgency or shock to bypass your skepticism. Slowing down your reaction is one of the simplest — and most effective — defenses.

Scammers now use AI to craft phishing emails and texts that sound personal, look legitimate, and often mimic real institutions.

They can appear to come from your bank or delivery services like USPS or FedEx. These messages try to trigger urgency or curiosity to get you to click a link or share sensitive information.⁴

Precautions to take:

Don’t click on links in unexpected messages — even if the name looks familiar. Instead, go directly to the source (like your bank’s website or your account on a retail site) to verify. If a message feels suspicious, check the sender’s address or number carefully and don’t respond.

What to know:

Scammers can spoof both email addresses and phone numbers. They can even use fake websites that look nearly identical to the real thing. If something feels off, pause, verify, and never rush to respond.

Many phishing scams lead you to the next trap: a fake website that looks almost identical to a trusted brand.

Scammers use AI to build convincing clones that mimic real companies, complete with official logos, login forms, and messaging.

Precautions to take:

Avoid entering personal or financial information on a site you reached through an email or text message. Instead, type the website address directly into your browser or use a saved bookmark. Look closely for misspellings or unusual characters in the URL.

What to know:

Just because a website looks legitimate doesn’t mean it is. Scammers use fake links to trick you into handing over passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information.⁵

AI makes it easier for scammers to gather your personal details, from social media posts to public records, and use them to create messages that seem tailored just for you. These scams might reference your job, family, hobbies, or recent events to catch you off guard and earn your trust.

Precautions to take:

Be mindful of what you share online. Adjust your privacy settings and avoid posting information about vacations, birthdays, or family milestones that could be used against you. If a message feels oddly specific or familiar, pause and verify before you respond.

What to know:

Scammers don’t need to hack you when they can simply collect what you’ve made public. The more they know, the more convincing their scams become.⁶