Artificial intelligence has radically transformed the way we live and work. From virtual assistants to autonomous cars, AI offers enormous benefits. Still, it also opens new doors for criminal activity, especially in the form of increasingly sophisticated and hard-to-detect scams.
How are cybercriminals taking advantage of AI?
Today, advanced AI tools enable non-technical fraudsters to quickly and easily generate highly convincing scams. Here are some standard methods:
Voice cloning
Voice cloning involves replicating a person’s timbre and speaking style using only a few seconds of their actual audio. This allows fraudulent calls to be made where the victim hears a familiar voice asking for urgent money. In the United States, criminals recently used this technique to trick a mother with a fake call, making her believe that her daughter had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom.
Voice cloning and synchronizing voice to video are very easy to do. In the video below, you can see my synthetic avatar created with Heygen more than a year ago, with a simple voice and video sample. I can assure you that the content we generate right now is practically indistinguishable from the real thing.
Deepfakes
Deepfakes are AI-generated videos or images that appear incredibly realistic, depicting real people saying or doing things they never actually did. For example, Elon Musk and Tom Hanks have reported the use of deepfakes in fake cryptocurrency ads, which fooled thousands of people.
AI-driven fake websites
Fraudsters can use advanced tools to create fake online stores in minutes, complete with products, customer reviews, and even fabricated business histories. These sites often mimic well-known brands, making consumers feel confident that they are entering their bank details on a legitimate site.
Labor scams
Criminals generate fake profiles on employment platforms, offering fictitious jobs with high salaries for simple tasks. They use AI-generated virtual interviews and automated emails that appear professional, tricking victims into disclosing their personal and banking details.
Worrying statistics
- Microsoft blocked over $4 billion in fraud in a single year (April 2024 to April 2025), with approximately 1.6 million fraudulent attempts occurring every hour.
- According to McAfee, one in ten people have been victims or targets of fraud attempts using AI-cloned voices, and 77% have lost money.
- In Spain and Latin America, AI-driven phishing increased by more than 200% in 2024 compared to the previous year.
How to protect yourself against these scams?
Here are some practical tips to keep you safe:
- Verbal password: Establish a secret password with family or close friends to confirm your identity in case of unexpected calls.
- Additional verification: Never make transfers based solely on urgent calls or emails. Always confirm by other means.
- Avoid sharing too much information: Limit the personal details you post on social networks, as criminals can use this information to build more convincing fake profiles.
- Use secure digital tools: Activate two-step verification on all your accounts and use applications that identify suspicious calls and emails.
- Beware of job offers that are too good: Be suspicious of jobs that promise high income without experience or that ask for personal information before face-to-face interviews.
Companies facing fraud with AI
Companies must also adopt strategies to protect themselves:
- Strong authentication: Implement multifactor authentication for corporate accounts, especially in employment platforms.
- Digital security training: Regularly train employees to recognize phishing and fraud attempts through periodic simulations.
- Anti-fraud algorithms utilize advanced technology, including deepfake detection tools and the analysis of suspicious behavior patterns.
AI: problem and solution
Although AI is used for fraudulent purposes, it can also play in our favor to combat scams. Technology companies like Microsoft and Google are developing algorithms to detect and prevent AI-driven fraud.
Awareness and prevention: the keys
The best defense against these advanced scams remains education, constant information, and a cautious attitude. By understanding how scammers operate and taking practical steps, you can significantly reduce the risk of falling into their traps.
Share this article so that more people can be alert and face this new generation of cybercrime together.
Have you ever received a suspicious call that seemed too real? What measures do you currently take to protect yourself from this type of scam? Tell us your experience in the comments!
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