Imagine getting a call from your grown daughter. She seems upset, but otherwise sounds exactly like herself. She says she's in trouble and needs money immediately. Or picture yourself receiving a video call from your boss asking you to make an urgent payment before the end of the day. You don’t want to question the request — it’s your boss.
These are people you know well, which means you'd probably trust what you were hearing and seeing. And that's precisely what makes AI-enabled scams both so unnerving and so effective: Fraudsters can use artificial intelligence to make their impersonations far more convincing than the clumsy phishing emails many of us now easily recognize. A scammer may need only a few seconds of recorded audio to convincingly replicate someone's voice. And there is evidence to suggest that the problem is becoming increasingly widespread.
Of course, fraud has been around a lot longer than AI. Scammers have pretended to be relatives, banks, government agencies, and employers for years. What's changing is how quickly and cheaply they can create personalized messages that look or sound real. And just as we all came to know the signs of a scammy email, we can learn the signs to identify AI scams. It starts with developing a few habits and making a plan for what to do when someone pressures you to act fast.
Here are a few common ploys to watch out for.
The fake emergency from someone you love
One of the most emotionally powerful scams involves an alleged crisis. A caller claims to be a child, grandchild, spouse, or other relative who’s been arrested, injured, or stranded. AI voice-cloning tools can make these calls sound more authentic. Scammers may gather audio from public social media videos, interviews, or other recordings. They may also use ordinary background noise and a panicked story to make it difficult to think clearly.
The caller might insist that you keep the situation secret or send money immediately. They may request payment through a wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or another method that's difficult to reverse.
What to do: Hang up and contact the person directly using a phone number you already have saved. If they don't answer, call another trusted family member. Don't rely on a number the caller gives you, and don't assume that a familiar voice proves the call is genuine. Families can make this easier by agreeing on a verification phrase or another way to confirm identity. A code word isn't foolproof, but it gives you a simple check when emotions are running high.
The boss who needs a favor right now
Workplace impersonation scams can target employees who have access to money, confidential information, or company systems. A scammer may pose as a manager or executive and ask someone to transfer funds, change payment details, buy gift cards, or share sensitive information. AI can help fraudsters imitate an executive's voice or create a convincing message. In more elaborate schemes, criminals may combine emails, phone calls, and video meetings to reinforce the illusion.
The pressure is part of the strategy. The request may be framed as confidential, urgent, or too important to run through normal channels.
What to do: Verify unusual requests using a separate, trusted communication channel. If your boss emails asking for an urgent transfer, call them using the number in your company directory — not the number in the email. Follow your organization's established payment and approval procedures, even if the request appears to come from a senior leader. A legitimate executive should understand why you need to verify a high-risk transaction.
The familiar company with a fake message
Messages claiming to come from a bank, delivery service, government agency, or technology company can be convincing even without AI. Generative AI can make them more polished, personalized, and free of the grammatical errors that once gave some scams away. A text might claim that your bank account has been locked, a package is delayed, or a payment is overdue. It may include a link that leads to a fake website designed to steal your login information or payment details.
Don't assume a message is legitimate because it includes your name, references a recent purchase, or looks professionally written.
What to do: Avoid clicking links in unexpected messages. Instead, open the company's official app or type its web address into your browser — and if the message claims there's a problem with your account, check it through that independent route. Be especially cautious about requests for passwords, verification codes, or payment information. A one-time login code is not something you should read to a stranger who calls claiming to be from your bank or tech support.
Fake videos, fake experts, and time-limited investment pitches
AI-generated images and videos can make fraudulent investment opportunities look credible. A video may appear to show a public figure or financial expert endorsing a product or promising unusually high returns. Scammers can also create fake news clips, testimonials, or social media profiles to make an investment seem popular and trustworthy. Even when a video looks convincing, it may be fabricated, manipulated, or taken out of context.
The warning signs aren't always visual. The pitch itself may promise guaranteed returns, suggest you've discovered a secret opportunity, or pressure you to invest before a deadline.
What to do: Never invest based solely on a video, online testimonial, or recommendation from someone you haven't independently verified. Check the investment and the people offering it through reliable sources, and be wary of anyone promising high returns with little or no risk. If an opportunity requires you to move money quickly, keep it secret, or pay fees to unlock supposed profits, step back. Illegitimate investments don't become legitimate just because someone appears on camera endorsing them.
The bottom line
The most important rule of all? Slow down. Many scams work by creating a feeling of emergency. You're told someone is in danger, your account will be closed, your boss is waiting, or an investment offer is about to end. The goal is to get you to act before you can check the story. Give yourself permission to pause. Hang up. Call back. Ask a colleague to verify a request. Talk to someone you trust before taking action.
You can also establish a few rules in advance: No money transfers based on a phone call alone. No sharing verification codes. No changes to payment instructions without independent confirmation. No exceptions just because the person making the request sounds convincing.
If you think you've been scammed, contact your bank or payment provider immediately, change any compromised passwords, and report the incident to the appropriate authorities. Quick action may help limit the damage.
AI can make deception more convincing, but it doesn't eliminate the value of common-sense safeguards. You don't have to determine whether a voice or video was generated by AI. You just have to verify the identity and the request before taking an action that could put your money or information at risk.
