The short answer: most online scams, with or without AI, share the same warning signs. They contact you out of the blue, there’s urgency or fear, they ask for secrecy, and they want payment by gift card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency or a payment app (FTC). AI just makes the voice, photo, video or message more convincing. Your best defense is to stop and check through a number or website you already know, and to agree on a family code word (FBI).
Why this matters
People 60 and older reported $7.7 billion in losses to the FBI in 2025, across 201,266 complaints (FBI IC3 2025 report). Overall, people reported losing $15.9 billion to fraud to the FTC in 2025, and text messages were the most common way scammers first made contact (FTC, March 2026).
How scammers use AI
The FBI warns that criminals use AI tools to make their schemes more believable (FBI):
- Cloned voices: a short clip of a relative’s voice, sometimes taken from social media, can be used to fake a call saying they’re in trouble and need money (FBI, FTC).
- Fake photos and profiles: realistic pictures for fake social media accounts, romance and investment scams, and even fake IDs or badges (FBI).
- Fake videos: video chats with a fake “executive,” “officer” or celebrity, or videos to “prove” an online friend is real (FBI).
- Polished messages: AI fixes the spelling and grammar mistakes that used to give scams away, and helps scammers write fake investment websites (FBI).
Warning signs in any call, text, email or post
- Pressure to act now. Honest businesses give you time to think (FTC).
- Threats of arrest, fines or a shut-off. Real government agencies won’t call and threaten you (FTC).
- A prize you have to pay for. If you have to pay to get it, it’s not a prize (FTC).
- Unusual payment methods: gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or payment apps. Anyone who insists on these is a scammer (FTC).
- “Don’t tell anyone.” Secrecy keeps you from checking with family.
- Images and video that look slightly off: odd hands, teeth or eyes, strange shadows, lag, or a voice that doesn’t match the lips (FBI).
- Caller ID you “recognize.” Names and numbers can be faked (FTC).
Five habits that stop most scams
- Pick a family code word and only share it in person. Ask for it on any urgent call (FBI). See how to set up a family safe word.
- Hang up and call back on a number you already know: your relative’s real number, the number on your bank card, or the official website (FBI, FTC).
- Never send money or gift cards to someone you’ve only met online or by phone (FBI).
- Don’t click links in unexpected texts and emails. Type the website address yourself. See why not to click links in texts.
- Make your social media private and limit followers to people you know. It gives scammers less of your voice, photos and family details to work with (FBI).
If you’ve been targeted
- Stop contact. Don’t reply or send anything else.
- If you paid, call your bank, card company, gift card company or payment app right away and ask them to reverse it (FTC).
- Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and at ic3.gov, with the dates, amounts, how you paid and how they contacted you (FBI).
- Watch for “recovery” scams. Anyone who calls offering to get your lost money back for a fee is probably another scammer (FTC).
- It’s not your fault. These schemes are built to fool smart, careful people. Tell a family member, so they can help and watch for follow-up attempts.
More guides: fake emails and phishing, tech support scams, the grandchild scam and romance scams.
