The next scam you receive may not contain obvious spelling mistakes or suspicious email addresses. Instead, it could include a voice cloned with artificial intelligence (AI), a fake website designed to look like your favourite online store or an email that appears to come from your bank. None of them is real.
Artificial intelligence is helping scammers create more convincing fraud by generating realistic voices, polished emails, fake websites and convincing text messages. AI isn't creating entirely new scams; it is making familiar scams more believable, according to the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
A new survey from Gallup and the Stop Scams Alliance found that about 12% of successful scams in 2025 involved artificial intelligence or deepfakes. The survey also found that about six per cent of US adults – an estimated 15 million people – reported losing money to a scam last year. According to the report, Americans lost an estimated US$68bil (RM278.29bil) to scams in 2025.
How can you protect yourself?
The Federal Trade Commission recommends the best defence is slowing down before responding to unexpected requests involving money or personal information.
Here are some ways to reduce risk:
- Look closely at website addresses. Fake websites often use URLs that closely resemble legitimate businesses but contain small spelling changes or extra characters.
- Don't click links in unexpected emails, texts or social media ads. Instead, type the company's website directly into your browser.
- Be sceptical of urgent requests. Scammers often pressure victims to act immediately before they have time to think.
- Verify calls or messages independently. If someone claiming to be a family member, friend or company asks for money or sensitive information, hang up and contact them using a phone number you already know is legitimate.
- Create a family safe word. Experts recommend having a secret phrase only close family members know to help verify emergency calls involving money.
- Use multifactor authentication whenever it's available to make online accounts more secure.
What are the most common AI scams?
According to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, artificial intelligence is making several familiar scams much harder to detect.
Some of the most common include:
- Fake online shopping websites.
- Voice-cloning scams impersonating family members.
- Deepfake videos promoting fake investments.
- AI-written phishing emails and text messages.
- Fake customer support websites and phone numbers.
Why is AI making scams more convincing?
Artificial intelligence allows scammers to produce realistic content in minutes instead of spending hours creating fake emails, websites or messages, according to the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
The result is fraud that often looks more professional than scams of the past, with fewer spelling mistakes, more personalised messages and realistic images, voices and videos.
The National Cybersecurity Alliance says AI doesn't change the goal of the scam – persuading someone to send money or reveal personal information – but it does make fraudulent messages more believable.
What should you do if you think you've been scammed?
If you believe you've been targeted:
- Stop communicating with the suspected scammer.
- Contact your bank or credit card company immediately.
- Change passwords for affected accounts.
- Monitor your financial statements for suspicious activity.
– The Dallas Morning News/Tribune News Service
