BE on the lookout for telltale signs that you’re being scammed – even if convincing AI is being used to trick you.
Criminals are taking advantage of artificial intelligence for sinister romance scams, experts have warned.
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These catfish-style “deepfakes” allow criminals to woo you and take your money or confidential information.
“Scammers now use AI,” warned McAfee cybersecurity expert Jasdev Dhaliwal.
“With AI audio and video deepfake technology so widely available, scammers can now hear and see the role they are playing – in real time.
“AI reflects every expression they make while chatting on a video call.”
Fortunately, despite how convincing these AI fakes may be, many of the same old rules for detecting scams apply.
WARNING SIGNS REVEALED
The first warning to watch out for is when the romance seems too good to be true.
This is often a general rule of thumb for spotting almost any type of scam: don’t fall for an opportunity that seems too perfect.
Secondly, be careful when the word “love” appears very quickly in messages.
“Take it as a red flag, especially online, when you haven’t had face-to-face contact with them,” warned Jasdev.
“A rush to declarations of love may indicate ulterior motives.”
Third is when the story doesn’t check out.
An AI can create a realistic persona, but it cannot guarantee that your story is convincing.
“Even individual scammers forget details they previously shared or provide conflicting information about their background, work or family,” Jasdev said.
Phone scam statistics
Americans are bombarded with three billion spam calls per month. What are the numbers regarding the number of victims and the amount of money lost to fraudsters
- In 2022, Americans lost an estimated $39.5 billion to phone fraud, with 68.4 million US citizens affected, according to TechReport.
- The average phone scam victim lost $567.41 each in 2021, a huge increase from the figure of $182 per victim in 2021, according to Hiya.
- Most scams happen over the phone, with fraudsters twice as likely to call compared to text in 2021, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports.
- In 2021, the US saw a 56% increase in spam phone calls, with 60% of those robocalls.
- US residents receive an average of 18 spam phone calls per month, although some experts believe the real number could be as high as 31 per month.
- Many phone calls from reputable companies can be mistakenly marked as spam, but 38% of companies have no idea whether they are being marked as “potential fraud” or not, according to Hiya.
- Never provide personal or financial information if you suspect a phone call is a scam. For example, your bank will never ask for these full details over the phone.
- To reduce spam calls and scams, sign up for the Do Not Call Registry. Telemarketers, by law, will need to check this list before calling you.
- Downloading third-party apps like Hiya, Nomorobo or Truecaller can help filter annoying spam calls.
- Try not to share your phone number unless necessary, especially online or with sketchy sources.
“It’s possible for a romance scammer to have multiple scams going on at the same time, which can cause confusion on their part.”
The fourth is when you feel high pressure.
Trying to rush you into a decision is a common scam tactic.
But don’t give out information for free online, especially if you’ve never met the person you’re talking to.
Haste in declarations of love may indicate ulterior motives.
Jasdev Dhaliwal
Finally, be extremely cautious if someone asks you for money online.
This is usually the end goal of any romance scam and is a very clear sign that you are being targeted by criminals.
You should be especially cautious if the request is strange, like a demand for gift cards or cryptocurrency.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
