AI scams are on the rise, and several factors contribute to this trend, according to Aaron Engle, the chief information officer for ExpressVPN.
“As technology advances, scammers are becoming more sophisticated and are leveraging AI to create highly convincing scams,” he said. “AI-powered tools, like voice cloning and deepfakes, enable fraudsters to produce realistic audio and video content, making their scams more believable and harder to detect.”
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Engle said that AI-powered voice cloning can mimic the voices of loved ones or authoritative figures with startling accuracy, which makes it easier for scammers to deceive their targets. And he explained that deepfake technology can generate highly realistic videos that are difficult to distinguish from genuine footage.
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Regulations and Protections Are Lagging
Engle explained that as AI technology becomes more and more accessible, it will allow more individuals to deploy these advanced techniques.
“Moreover, the growing digitalization of services, especially in government and financial sectors, provides more opportunities for AI-enhanced scams,” he said. “Regulatory bodies and consumer protection agencies are constantly playing catch-up with the fast-paced advancements in AI technology.
“The lag in implementing effective regulations and protections against AI-driven fraud means that scammers often operate with little fear of immediate repercussions. This regulatory gap further emboldens cybercriminals to innovate and expand their fraudulent activities.”
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AI Scams To Be Aware Of
According to Engle, these are some of the AI scams to watch out for and what they entail.
Voice Cloning Scams
“These scams use AI to clone the voice of someone you know, such as a family member or colleague,” he said. “The cloned voice can then be used to make phone calls or leave messages that sound convincingly like the person you know, asking for money or sensitive information.”
Deepfake Scams
Engle explained that deepfakes involve AI-generated images or videos that appear real.
“Scammers might create a video of a CEO or government official asking employees or citizens to transfer money or provide confidential information,” he said.
Easy Online Job Scams
Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a job, you’ll need to be on the lookout for fake employment opportunities powered by AI.