The simplest way to defeat a phone scam, plus more tips to protect yourself in the AI age

Phone scams like these have been around for years but have become more targeted as people share information more freely online. — Image by master1305 on Freepik

The phone rings, and it's your son in trouble, needing money. Your bank calls to say your online account has been hacked, and you need to change your password quickly. A text from your spouse comes through: They've lost their wallet on a trip, can you help?

Phone scams like these have been around for years but have become more targeted as people share information more freely online. And as technology like voice cloning improves, emotion-driven scams seeking to wheedle cash out of unsuspecting victims, such as the one that nearly befell a Marin County family, have only gotten more convincing.