Picture this. You’re having a nice day, minding your own business, when the phone rings. Your child is calling you, and you answer immediately. Only when you answer, there is no usual greeting. You hear your kid crying, terrified, saying that they’ve been kidnapped. Your heart drops and you start to panic. Then, a stranger’s voice asks you to send ransom money if you ever want to see your kid again.
No, unfortunately, this isn’t a nightmare anymore. It’s a very real scenario that can happen to any parent in the US with the rise of AI-powered deepfakes. That’s how hackers can convince you your child’s in danger when, in fact, they’re safe at school.
The Rise of AI-Powered Deepfake Scams
Criminals can now use AI to change video and audio in ways that previously were almost impossible. And that’s all thanks to now advanced deepfake technology. Bad actors can make a deepfake audio that sounds eerily real with just a short sample clip. They can copy your child’s voice, tone, and even how upset they sound. This makes it hard for parents to tell the difference between real situations and scams.
These scams try to make you feel scared and act quickly because of panic. In a situation like that, you won’t even take the time to check if what’s happening is real. Hackers know that parents will do anything to keep their children safe. Even pay the necessary amount they ask of them.
What Are Other AI-Powered Scams?
AI has lots of positive things to offer, but thanks to bad actors it can quickly become nightmare fuel for every single person on the planet. Apart from deepfake scams, there are other ways AI is being used to target people.
AI-Generated Phishing Emails
You’ve probably received phishing emails before. They are those sketchy emails asking you to click a link or provide personal information. With AI, scammers can now make these emails look much more convincing and tailored individually for you. They might pretend to be your bank, a company you trust, or even a friend.
Fake Social Media Profiles
Scammers use AI to create fake social media accounts that look super realistic. They’ll use these accounts to reach out to you, maybe pretending to be a new friend or a business offering a deal. They can easily make the profiles look like someone you know.
Social Media Fraud
Scammers love to take advantage of the personal details we share on social media. They can use information like your vacation photos or check-ins to create a more believable scam, like pretending to know you or your family.
How to Recognise AI-Powered Scams
For starters, these types of scams encourage you to act right away. Scammers want you to act fast before you even have the time to think things through. So, breathe in and out for a couple of seconds. Then, do your best to find out everything about the situation before moving forward.
Next, even though deepfake and other AI scams are getting more sophisticated, they’re not perfect. Pay close attention to the audio or video clip. Look for any background noise, robotic-sounding speech, or other inconsistencies.
When getting a call, message, or email that seems fishy, always check the source. Before you engage with the scammer, call your child’s school or a close family member to find out where they are. Lastly, if someone asks to send sensitive information through a phone or email, ignore them. They’re most definitely scammers.
How to Improve Your Family’s Online Privacy and Safety
Protecting yourself against these AI-powered scams is now more important than ever. A great starting point is to use a virtual private network (VPN). An online VPN can mask your internet traffic and stop hackers from tracking your family’s online activities. Anything you search and browse for will remain private under its shield. So, hackers won’t have any ammo to launch their cyberattacks.
The second thing you can do is stop posting every single thing about yourself and your family on social media. This way, scammers won’t have enough data to target you. Tell your family members, your kids, and even your dog to post less on social media.
Strong passwords are a must, and you should use a different one for each account. That way, if one password gets out, your other accounts stay safe. For a security boost, there’s something called multi-factor authentication (MFA). It’s like adding a second lock to your door. Even if someone sneaks past your password, they’ll still need a special code or fingerprint to get in.
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