How to recognize AI-related scams
Scammers now use AI to fake voices, photos, and messages. Learn the warning signs and how to protect yourself and your family.
Outcome
The confidence to spot and avoid AI-powered scams.
AI makes scams more convincing: a cloned voice on the phone, a fake photo, or a message that sounds exactly like a company you trust. The defenses, though, are the same reliable ones.
Warning signs
- Urgency and pressure ('act now or lose access')
- A request for money, gift cards, or passwords
- A voice or video call that feels 'off' or asks you to keep it secret
- A link that doesn't match the real website address
What to do
- 1
Stop and breathe
Real emergencies survive a five-minute pause. Scams rely on panic.
- 2
Verify independently
Hang up and call the person or company back on a number you already trust β not one from the message.
- 3
Agree a family code word
A secret word confirms it's really your family member on a suspicious call.
Made different for you
Why this is useful for you
Protect yourself and your savings from increasingly convincing scams.
You don't need to understand the technology to stay safe β just follow the steps and never rush.
β A simple plan you can rely on when something feels wrong.
Related resources
Is AI safe to use? A practical guide
Understand the real risks of everyday AI β privacy, wrong answers, and scams β and simple habits that keep you safe.
Deepfake
A deepfake is AI-generated media β a face, voice, or video β designed to look or sound like a real person. Scammers use them to trick people, so it's important to verify anything surprising.
Sources
- SeishunAI safety guidance Β· Verified 2026-07-22