How to Help Protect Yourself from AI Scams

Artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of deception, making scams more sophisticated and harder to spot than ever before. AI can generate voices that may sound like your own family members or images that look exactly like your bank app.
AI excels at mimicking reality, but if you know these warning signs, then you can help yourself and others stop a scam in its tracks:
• Requests for personal information- Most scams come down to wanting your information. No bank, company or government entity will ever contact you asking for private information such as passwords or social security numbers. Never put your information into an unknown link or website.
• Artificial urgency and scare tactics- If you get a call, text or email about needing to ‘act now’ or ‘immediate action required,’ that’s a major red flag. Always pause and think before acting immediately. Call the person or entity using trusted contact information. Never use information given to you in an unsolicited call.
• Feeling ‘Off’- AI images often have distortions in the small details or an uncanny hyper-realistic appearance. Sometimes there is too much detail or not enough detail. Do your research before buying something on a website you’ve never used before.
If you spot these warning signs, don't engage. Never click links or download attachments from unsolicited messages and be suspicious of people asking for money via unconventional means such as gift cards or wire transfers.
Always directly contact your bank using the trusted number on the back of your card or visit your local branch. If you encounter an AI scam, fight back by reporting it and file complaints at ftc.gov/complaint.
To learn more about shielding your family from bank impersonation fraud, visit BanksNeverAskThat.com.