Experts warn of scams powered by AI

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A new wave of smart scams, powered by artificial intelligence, is now targeting consumers every single day.

They involve AI generated voices, more personalized messages, and coordinated attacks across email, phone, and websites.

Up to 73% of adults in the United States have experienced some kind of online scam or attack involving AI, costing U.S. consumers more than $12 billion dollars last year.

What's more, Generation Z- those born between 1997 and 2012 - are more than two times as likely to fall for online cons.

Experts tell the Troubleshooters there are three main ways AI scams are changing.

The first, while 8 out of 10 scams begin with email, criminals are now following up with fake websites, phone calls, and text messages to make scams feel real.

"Reaching out via SMS, reaching out by telegram, WhatsApp, messages on Facebook or other different types of social media to be able to build up trust," said Dave Meister with Check Point Research. "Because if you're getting just one SMS, you're not likely to click it. But if you are getting somebody who's also reaching out and leaving a voicemail, if you were getting an email from somebody, it starts to bring people's guards down."

Second, Meister said criminals are increasingly using AI to customize their con.

"One of the things that concerns me, personally, is that the more information you put online, the more that the chat engines and the AI engines are able to learn about you," he said. "So, if I was a malicious actor and I wanted to scam you, I would start with your social media pages."

Criminals will then use your own information against you and tailor a message to you, even cloning a voice or creating bogus videos that make you think you're communicating with someone you know.

"In 2026, it's never been more important to be hypervigilant about the images audio and video that you're putting online about yourself and your family," Meister added.

If someone you know seems to be texting or calling you with an unusual request, hang up if you can and call the person directly or ask them questions to which only they would know the answer.

And finally, scammers like to play what Meister calls 'the long game'. He said many keep a con going for weeks, months or years to gain trust and get more money.

He also said it is hard to tell if a video or voice message is AI generated.

Technology has gotten better so you won't hear or see glitches like in the past.

Your best defense is an old one: if something seems to good to be true or feels off, it probably is.