How to Protect Yourself in the Age of AI
If you’ve used AI (artificial intelligence) to streamline everyday tasks, you already know how powerful and helpful it can be. But these tools aren’t just being used for good—they’re also being used to deceive. With advanced tech like deepfakes and voice cloning, it’s getting harder to tell what’s real and what’s not. So how can you protect yourself in this new digital age? Here are 10 of the most common AI scams—and 10 smart ways to spot them and stay safe online.
1. Voice Cloning
AI is smart, and it's only going to get smarter. Back in the day, you might have heard a robotic voice on the other end of the line and immediately hung up. But nowadays, scammers can use AI to realistically mimic a loved one, making it nearly impossible to discern between fake and real, especially when you're already panicked.
2. Deepfake Impersonations
It isn't just voices AI can impersonate—it's the appearance, too. Scammers can use deepfake technology to create lifelike visual and audio clones of people, making it much harder to detect whether something is real or not.
3. Phishing Emails
We've all seen the classic phishing emails scammers used to send out, and by now, they're probably easy to spot and delete. But AI phishing emails are different in that they're much more context-specific, personalized, and appear legitimate. This makes them incredibly convincing and easy to fall for.
4. Fake Job Interviews
Scammers can use AI to send out fake job interviews, using bots and voice assistants to conduct interviews. For those desperate for employment, it can be hard to spot these scams, especially when overcome by receiving an interview or job offer.
5. Fake Job Postings
It's not just fake interviews scammers are using AI for, but job postings, too. If you don't regularly verify companies and employers before you send in your resume and application, you could be putting yourself at more risk.
6. Fake Investment Advice
Scammers may also use AI to create fraudulent investment profiles and advisors to lure people into fake opportunities. They may use social media, websites, and online forums to spread the word, making the information seem legitimate.
7. Fake Reviews
If you've ever come across a product with a surprisingly high number of five-star reviews, it's probably the work of AI. By using AI to create these endorsements, unsuspecting customers may believe the words of these "real reviewers" and purchase fake products.
8. Romance Scams
Scammers may even use AI on dating apps to establish trust and an emotional connection before exploiting these individuals financially. They can even use deepfake videos or AI-generated photos to make the scam more believable and harder to verify.
9. ChatBot Impersonations
Even the chatbots you speak with on websites can't be trusted. Scammers can use AI to generate believable conversations to extract personal or sensitive information from you, or push you to click fraudulent links and attachments.
10. Fake Social Media Accounts
Scammers can also use AI to create fake social media accounts that impersonate a real influencer. From there, they can use these profiles to trick multiple people at once, such as holding fake giveaways that require sending personal information.
How, then, can you keep yourself safe? What are some common signs to look for so you don't fall for these scams? Here are 10 tips that might help:
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1. Stay Skeptical
No matter what you do online, which sites you visit, and who you chat with, stay skeptical. Don't trust anyone and don't click on any links or send out sensitive information without first making sure that who you're talking to is who they say they are.
2. Verify Identities
Before you blindly trust the identity of someone, even if their voice or appearance seems identical to someone you know, make sure to double-check online or with someone else. For example, for voice cloning scams, have someone else call the person directly. For job posting scams, check to make sure the company or employer is legitimate.
3. Establish a Code Word
You may want to establish a safe word between you, your friends, and family; make sure this word isn't shared anywhere online or through social media. This way, if you ever receive an alarming phone call, you can ask for the code word to see if it's truly them or someone impersonating them.
4. Keep Your Eyes & Ears Alert
Watch out for inaccuracies in speech, photos, or videos. AI-generated images and audio may be extremely convincing at first, but once you know what to look for, you can usually tell real from fake. Take note of unusual expressions, movements, or strange shadows and lightings.
5. Secure Your Devices
Protect your devices by keeping them updated and using strong passwords for all your accounts. Don't leave login credentials in places where others could see, and don't use public computers to visit sensitive sites, like your bank or email.
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6. Too Good to Be True
When you're offered something, whether through email or even a trustworthy job site, ask yourself: Is the offer too good to be true? For example, if a potential employer reaches out to you with an opportunity that pays far more than normal, be skeptical.
7. Inconsistencies
Watch out for inconsistencies in written, audio, and visual cues. When speaking with a chatbot, are there unusual grammatical errors, or do they always seem to be asking the same questions? When chatting over the phone with someone who claims to be a reputable person, are there glitches in their voice or odd pitches and tones? Taking note of these small details may help you from falling into a scammer's trap.
8. Remember Common Tactics
Scammers will always present you with an urgent situation that requires immediate attention. They want to instil fear in you because that motivates you to do exactly what they tell you to. By knowing and familiarizing yourself with these common tactics, you'll be able to spot scams before they have a chance to lure you in.
9. Stay in the Know
Stay updated and in the know about common scams. With AI changing the landscape, it'll only get more and more difficult to spot whether something is real or not—but doing your research will allow you to be more aware of what type of scams are currently being used to trick people.
10. Listen to Your Gut
Listen to your gut. If something is too good to be true, then it probably is; if something feels "off" or odd, it probably is as well. Use your instincts—and research—to make informed decisions, and again, remain skeptical until you can verify something for certain.
