Stay Safe this Holiday Season: Top Tips to Avoid AI Scams
Published on: March 10, 2024
Scams tend to surge during the holiday season, and criminals are constantly devising new methods to steal personal and financial information. As the holiday shopping frenzy ensues, experts are warning consumers to remain vigilant.
Whether it's through your phone or computer, scammers are inventing innovative ways to separate you from your hard-earned money. Celia Surridge, a spokeswoman for the Better Business Bureau (BBB), expressed deep concern about consumer scams, particularly during the holiday period or Amazon Prime sale events.
Some of the top holiday scams include social media scams, missed package scams, fake gift cards, and counterfeit websites. However, a disturbing new type of scam has emerged, leveraging artificial intelligence.
"With today's technology, scammers can use audio and video effects to mimic a loved one's voice," Surridge cautioned.
Using AI, scammers are now capable of cloning someone's voice to impersonate a family member in distress. They then proceed to manipulate victims into sending money over the phone.
This alarming trend has caught the attention of lawmakers. Representative Josh Harder highlighted the rapid increase in fraud cases over the past two years, with consumers losing nearly $9 billion to fraud in 2022 alone, marking a 30% rise from the previous year. AI-driven scams are expected to contribute to this year's surge.
"Technology is advancing rapidly, and we need to ensure our laws can keep pace," stated Harder, who has introduced the Artificial Intelligence Accountability Act in an effort to hold tech companies accountable for the misuse of their technology.
"If the technology they develop is not being abused for criminal activity," added Harder.
In the meantime, the FBI offers several tips to protect your finances:
- Do not answer calls from unknown numbers.
- If someone claiming to be a family member sounds suspicious, hang up.
- Verify with other family members if you receive a suspicious call.
- Limit the amount of personal information shared on social media.
- Never divulge personal information over the phone without first confirming the caller's identity.