Scamming, an Ancient Art Empowered by AI
Hey, stop for a second! Did you think scams are an invention of the digital age? Nothing to see! The scams are as old as the world, even before Christ turned water into wine. The difference is that now, with artificial intelligence, we have a new actor in this theatre of deception. But remember, behind every AI scam, there is always a human brain at work.
The Elon Musk Case: Deepfakes and the New Frontier of Fraud
Did you hear about the video scam? deepfake of Elon Musk 0? I came across one in a YouTube ad, and I swear it looked super real. In those videos, they were advertising a "secret new investment project" by Musk. For a moment I was tempted to invest, it looked so real and tempting.
The Realism and Fame Trap
These deepfakes were so convincing that many fell for them. Musk's fame and the quality of the deepfake made the scam look legitimate. I luckily did my research before doing anything and found out it was a scam.
Unbelievable that even on platforms such as YouTube these things happen and cheat so many people.
Artificial Intelligence: The Swindler's New Disguise?
That's right, AI is nothing more than a disguise.a modern mask for the usual swindler. Imagine, now you not only have to watch out for fairground charlatans, but also for cybercriminals who use AI to give a patina of sophistication to their hoaxes.
Opening Eyes to Deception
And here comes the important part: it is not about living in fear of being cheated, but to open your eyes. Don't be driven by impulse, always question and investigate. It doesn't matter if you don't use AI in your daily life, knowing about these AI scams empowers you.
Do you want to be smart and clever? Then don't be ignorant! Learn about the new forms of scams so that you don't get caught unawares. Do you think so? See below for more on how to prevent this.
The Unstoppable Rise of Artificial Intelligence Scams in 2023
The scams with artificial intelligence are at their peak this year. According to Norton, we're seeing everything from shops online to cryptocurrency scams, all powered by AI. 1.
And this is no small matter: in the United States, these scams generated losses of $2.6 billion only in 2022 2.
Think that's a lot? Well, in the UK, a WhatsApp scam managed to snatch £1.5 million in just four months.
AI: The Scammers' New Favourite Tool
Cybercriminals are celebrating with these easy-to-use and accessible tools. No longer do they need large skills techniques; with a little AI, anyone can be a fraudster. In addition, Did you know that half of all adults share their voice online every week? This makes it even easier to clone voices for artificial intelligence scams.
Open Your Eyes to Reality
Don't get left behind. It's time to open your eyes and be vigilant. These artificial intelligence scams are a wake-up call for your business.be more cautious and question everything that seems too good to be true.
Are you ready to face this new challenge?
The Evolution of the Scam with Artificial IntelligenceFrom "Hello, how are you?" to AI Voice Cloning
Can you imagine receiving a call from a loved one asking for help, but it turns out to be a scammer using voice cloning? That is what is happening now. McAfee says AI voice cloning has become a prevalent scam tooldeceiving people into thinking that they are talking to a family member. In the United States, these AI scams generated millions of dollars in losses.
Te tell you something that happened to me when I was a teenager.
My friends called my house to chat with me, but there was a small... or rather, a big problem: !my sister! she has exactly my voice. She's not my clone, but I swear our voice is identical. So, she was pretending to be me in order to to find out all the gossip and secrets and, of course, then use them for extort money from me.
An imposter in my own home!
Operation Desert": Our Ingenious Solution
One day, fed up with falling into their trap, my friends and I decided to use a "key word', but not just any key word. It had to be something we would never use in normal conversation. And in our case, it was "desert". In Uruguay, talking about deserts is like talking about penguins in the Caribbean, it doesn't make sense! So, when my friends would call, they would say something like "Did you see the camels in the oasis or in the desert?" If the answer was a "What!"they knew that they were talking to my sister's impostor.
That method we invented was easy, fast and effective. And now we see what is happening with voice cloning, we were quite far ahead, I would say.
The Keyword, Your Shield Against Scams with Artificial Intelligence
So, if you suspect your loved ones may be the target of voice cloning scams, do as I do: set a "code word".
And not something commonplace like "pizza"! I chose something unexpected.
Believe me, knowledge is power, and a word can be your best defence!
The New Face of Fraud: Technologically Advanced and Scary
The ease and low cost of these AI technologies have opened the door to a new type of cybercrime. It is no longer just about emails from African princes; now it's your "grandson", your "son" or your "mother" in trouble asking for money. And the worst thing is that many people share their voice online without knowing that they may be feeding these scams with artificial intelligence. But it's hard to stay out of technology.
Knowledge is Power
If I've learned anything from these artificial intelligence scams, it's that being informed is the best defence. Don't let technology fool you; learn to recognise these scams and protect your loved ones.
Who Are the Victims of AI Scams? Statistics at a Glance
Let's get serious for a second. According to a McAfee survey, a quarter of adults said they have had some experience with AI voice scams: 10% experienced them first-hand, and 15% know someone who has.. And believe it or not, our grandparents and parents are the most affected by these scams, especially when the scammer clones the voice of a child or grandchild.
An Alarming Picture: Not Just Numbers, But True Stories
We are talking about real people, like you and me, who fall into these traps. And here comes the most worrying part: the 36% of people did not even know that these voice cloning scams or modified videos with celebrities existed.
Imagine how many people can fall into these traps without having a clue!
Ignorance Is Not Happiness(well, in some cases, not in this one).
So, next time you think these things only happen to others, remember these statistics. Artificial intelligence scams are a real threat, and the The best weapon we have is information and knowledge. Are you ready to learn more and protect yourself?
Shielding yourself against scams with Artificial Intelligence Strategies and Advice
Attention, attention! Do you want to know how to protect yourself from artificial intelligence scams? Here is an arsenal of strategies:
- The Key Word: Not Just for Sister Busybodies Remember my anecdote with my sister. A code word can be your lifeline. Establish one with your loved ones for critical moments.
- Expert Level Mistrust: If It Sounds Too Good... If you receive a suspicious message or call, even from a family member, ask questions that only that person would know how to answer.
- Research 101: Google is Your Friend Before you act, search the internet. Many scams are known and you can find information about them.
- Eye on Sharing: Less is More Think twice before sharing personal or voice information on social networks or apps. This data is gold for fraudsters.
- Updates and Security: Keeping Up to Date Keep your devices and software up to date. Often, updates include security enhancements.
- Continuing Education: Stay Informed Read, learn and share information about AI scams. The more we know, the less vulnerable we are.
- Banks and Security: Never Lower Your Guard Listen to me: banks will never, ever, ask you for personal information by email or phone unless you called them. If someone calls you claiming to be from your bank, do as I did: Ask for a number to call them yourself and check that they are from your bank.
- How to Protect Yourself from Deepfakes Research is Key: If something on the internet looks too good to be true, it probably is. Do your research before you act. Verification of Sources: Seek information from reliable sources and cross-check the information.
- Digital Awareness: Remember that deepfakes are on the rise. Don't be fooled by the apparent reality.
In short, these cases teach us to always be alert and always check. In a world where technology can manipulate reality, our best shield is caution and scepticism.
Our Responsibility in the Age of AI
And now, we come to the end. But this is not a goodbye, but a call to action. AI is a powerful tool, but its ethical use is up to us. We cannot let scams taint the incredible possibilities that AI offers.
I invite you to share your experiences or tips on how to avoid falling for AI scams. And if you liked what you read, why don't you subscribe to the newsletter?
This will enable you to receive more content about AI and its impact on our lives.
Let's make this digital world a safer place for everyone!
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