By Kerry Gallagher
Artificial intelligence is making online scams more convincing and harder to detect. These scams feel urgent and personal, and they are designed to trigger quick reactions.
- Deepfake voice cloning can mimic a loved one’s voice in distress (“Honey, I need help!”).
- Deepfake videos can create realistic but entirely fake messages from trusted individuals.
- AI can scan social media and public data to craft highly personalized emails or texts that reference names, schools, or recent activities.
Watch for these red flags:
- Urgency: Pressure to act immediately. Legitimate organizations or people will not demand instant decisions.
- Requests for more personal information: If someone already seems to know details about you, be cautious if they ask for additional sensitive data.
- Secrecy or avoidance of verification: Messages that discourage you from telling others or checking through normal channels are a major warning sign. Authentic offers will welcome verification.
Teach your family how to verify and prevent harm:
- Ask questions only the real person would know. Agree on a few simple “family verification questions” ahead of time, such as shared experiences or details that would be difficult to find online. This creates a quick way to confirm identity in a stressful moment.
- Hang up and reach out directly. If you receive a call or message that feels off, end the interaction and contact the person or organization using a phone number or email you already trust. Encourage your children to do the same instead of replying in the moment.
- Slow down and create a pause habit. Practice taking a moment before responding to any urgent request. Even a short delay can help you notice inconsistencies or warning signs.
- Talk through scenarios as a family. Role-play common scam situations so children and teens feel prepared to question what they hear or see, even if it sounds convincing.
If your family encounters a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ or to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at https://www.ic3.gov/. Reporting helps track patterns and protect others. Be aware that scammers sometimes impersonate government agencies like the FTC, so apply the same verification steps before responding to any outreach.