When you hear about people losing money through internet scams, you probably think, “That will never happen to me.” While that could be true, there’s no guarantee — and falling for one of these schemes can be costly. According to the FBI, Americans lost $893 million to artificial intelligence (AI) financial scams in 2025. People over 50 are the most common victims.
AI is evolving quickly, and it’s becoming harder to tell what is real and what is fake. AI-generated videos and phone calls (also known as deepfakes) can be used to scam you by sounding like your relative or someone you met online. But you don’t have to be one of the thousands duped each year by AI-generated content. Read on to find out how to spot fake AI images and voice cloning and keep your money safe.
How to tell if a video is AI-generated
AI-generated videos can seem very real because the technology has advanced significantly in recent years. It’s important to be cautious of any video where someone asks you for money – whether it’s a trusted celebrity offering a “sure thing” investment opportunity or a video of your grandchild asking for emergency money.
Here’s how to spot a deep-fake video:
- Check to see if features like moles or facial hair look natural.
- Look for unusually smooth or “polished” skin without any creases.
- Watch to see if a person’s lip movements perfectly match the audio.
- Check the person’s skin tone and make sure the face matches the rest of the body (face-swapping is very common in AI videos).
- Consider if the person is saying things that are way out of character, or if their clothes match what they normally wear.
- Watch to see if they’re blinking too much or too little.
- If the person wears glasses, watch for a glare or light reflection that changes when they move.
- Check the shadows to see if they’re consistent with the person or their background.
Voice cloning scams targeting older adults
Voice cloning with AI has been around for some time. This kind of AI financial scam may be harder to detect than a made-up video because it may really sound like your grandson or other family member. It only takes a few seconds of recorded audio for someone to create a voice clone, and samples can be picked up on most social media sites.
People can also use this kind of scam to impersonate a romantic interest you may meet online. A person can set up a fake profile, then email and call to build a relationship. You may not know the scammer isn’t real … until they start asking for money.
You can protect yourself from financial losses related to AI voice cloning scams by pausing to think and verifying information. Here are some telltale signs of an AI voice clone.
- The person may never be able to meet you in person or by video chat.
- The voice may sound like someone you know, but it lacks emotion or speaks in a monotone like a robot.
- You hear buzzing or echoes.
- Some unusual pauses or words run together as the caller talks.
- You don’t hear human sounds like breathing, throat clearing, or sighs that people use to fill space when talking.
- There are no background noises, or ones that are there sound abnormal.
You should always be wary if someone tries to threaten you — like saying they’re the IRS and you owe them money — or if they ask for sensitive information like your Social Security number on a call. Upstanding businesses and federal agencies don’t do either of these things over the phone.
One way to test if the caller is an actual person or an AI clone is by asking them to repeat themselves. If you ask a question more than once and get the same answer, just rephrased, that could be a red flag. You can also ask an odd question completely out of context. For instance, tell them to recite a poem in the middle of the call. A person would be confused — an AI bot would just try to do it without any reaction.
Protecting yourself with digital literacy
Whether it’s an unusual call, an odd email asking for money, or a red flag while online shopping, recognizing threats and practicing basic digital literacy skills can help keep your finances safe. Here are a handful of things to watch for and ways to protect yourself in the AI Wild West.
Watch for a sense of urgency. The person reaching out will often try to rush you, so you don’t stop and think about the situation.
They will tell you how to pay them. Scammers typically suggest payment types where they get the money quickly but make it hard to get back. They’ll request gift cards, a money transfer app, a wire service, or cryptocurrency.
Don’t trust your caller ID. Scammers can make their numbers look local and legitimate.
Check the source. Whether it’s a charity, political campaign, or family member, you can hang up and call the person back on a known number or look the business up to see if it’s legitimate.
Have a family codeword. This way, if anyone calls asking for money, you can ask them the word.
Too good to be true. No organization will tell you over the phone that you’ve won a prize and ask for personal information or want fees or charges before you can have it.
High-tech scammers spend a lot of time and energy finding new ways to trick people into giving them cash. And AI has made it even more difficult to detect what’s real versus what’s fake. But staying informed, pausing to think about the information you are given, and having a little healthy skepticism can be your best defense against falling for scams.
