Americans are being defrauded of more money than ever before as cybercriminals enhance their scams with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The FBI recorded $21 billion lost to cybercrime in 2025, the highest ever. This is widely considered an underestimate, since only a small fraction of financial fraud victims report the incident to the police.
Cases related to AI were among the costliest, the FBI said. AI-enhanced scams are now 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods, the International Police Organization (commonly known as Interpol) warned in 2026.
Cybercriminals target all age groups, but older adults (age 60 and up) have been scammed the most, and have lost larger sums of money. Losses over $100,000 were three times as likely to be reported by older adults in 2024. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned about a growing wave of scammers stealing retirees’ entire life savings.
Here are some tips to protect yourself and your loved ones from being scammed.
1. Always verify someone’s identity, no matter how convincing they seem.
Imposter scams have been the most common fraud for nine consecutive years, the FTC said in 2026. Scammers try to steal money or information by pretending to be someone they’re not, including government workers, law enforcement, bank representatives, friends, family, job recruiters, debt collectors, and tech specialists.
A scammer might try to appear more credible using
- Deepfakes—realistic AI-generated photos, videos, or audio clips of someone, often created to make it seem like that person said or did something they didn’t do
- Specific personal details like names, birthdays, relationships, financial transactions, hobbies, interests, travel, or local events—often pulled from public social media posts
- Fake documents, paperwork, IDs, badges, bills, invoices, etc.
- A fake caller ID, or an email, phone number, or social media profile that looks legitimate
Scammers are taking advantage of wide-spread, low-cost AI tools to target victims more precisely and appear more believable, even to trained professionals.
Convincing deepfakes can be made using only a photo and three seconds of someone’s voice. A handful of public social media posts provides enough information to personalize phishing messages.
Always be skeptical of any unsolicited phone calls, texts, emails, voice messages, and social media messages—no matter how convincing they seem.
Here are some ways to verify someone’s identity
- Hang up and call back with a phone number you already know is real
- Look up a business or government agency’s contact information on their official website, or on past financial statements or physical mail
- Ask someone about the last time you spoke, if they claim to be a friend or family member
- Select a safe word that your family and inner circle can use to confirm it’s really them
2. Stay vigilant. Don’t fall for obvious red flags.
Many fraud victims do not realize that AI is involved, the FBI says. As the technology evolves, scammers have gotten better at concealing once-obvious red flags.
In a 2026 AARP survey, a majority of Asian Americans were able to identify common red flags of financial fraud, like being asked to handle an urgent financial matter by purchasing gift cards or cryptocurrencies (digital currencies used for electronic payments). A majority also said they were confident in their ability to spot AI-driven scams.
However, researchers believe that confidence can increase someone’s risk and create a false sense of security. Repeated studies show that people cannot reliably detect AI-generated content, despite thinking they can. In many cases, their guesses are indistinguishable from chance.
In a 2026 study, Australian researchers found that most people use outdated visual cues when trying to identify AI-generated faces. AI-written spam emails are less likely to contain bad grammar, poor spelling, and other giveaways, fooling 60% of participants in a 2024 Harvard Business School study. AI powered over half of all spam emails as of April 2025.
Always stay diligent, even if you do not detect any obvious red flags right away. Watch out for common actions scammers often try to get people to do.
A scammer might ask you to
- Divulge personal information such as your full name, home address, bank accounts, passwords, immigration status, Medicare or Social Security numbers
- Enter personal information on a specific form or website
- Click on links or download files in an email, text, or social media message
- Transfer money in order to “protect” it
- Deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM (physical kiosks where you can use a credit or debit card to buy Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies)
- Grant remote access to your computer to fix a “security issue” or defend against hackers
3. Slow down. Avoid hasty reactions in a crisis.
Imposter scams usually begin with a fake story to grab your attention. Scammers will tell you about a crisis or time-sensitive opportunity, then say the only way they can help is if you follow their instructions.
Resist any pressure to act quickly, despite how serious or urgent it may sound. Before doing anything, take an “Active Pause” to assess what you know about the situation, verify the source, and consult someone you trust.
Pay attention to how you feel. Scammers often try to dial up fear and urgency to get you to react right away, before you have time to think or talk to anyone else.
Some common lies they might use are
- “Someone is accessing your money.”
Bank impersonators might send you a fake security alert, or tell you about “suspicious activity” on your debit or credit cards. - “Your account has been compromised.”
Scammers might pretend to be from businesses like Amazon and ask to verify your information or renew your membership. They might say someone’s hacked your account or made an unauthorized purchase, or tell you there’s a problem with one of your orders. - “You are being investigated for criminal activity.”
Scammers have claimed to be with the police or a federal agency. They might say your identity’s been stolen, or that your Social Security number has been linked to a crime. - “You owe taxes, fees, or some other fine.”
Scammers have pretended to be from government agencies like the IRS, Social Security Administration, and Medicare. They’ve also posed as city services, calling about unpaid tolls, utility bills, or missed jury duty fees. They could threaten you with late fees, reduced benefits, or revoked vehicle registration. - “A celebrity or CEO endorses this product, and you have to invest in it now.”
Scammers have impersonated celebrities, business leaders, medical professionals, and trusted community messengers to push fake endorsements on YouTube, social media, and scam websites. In a recent case, scammers edited footage of Nguyễn Cao Kỳ Duyên and other Vietnamese celebrities to sell fake health supplements to seniors. - “You have an offer of employment.”
Fake job recruiters have used chatbots and deepfake videos to conduct virtual job interviews and steal someone’s personal information. Some might extend fraudulent job offers that require paying upfront for starter kits, training, or certifications. - “You’ve been hacked.”
A fake tech specialist or internet service provider might say there’s a virus or malware on your computer, or claim you’ve been targeted by hackers. - “You’ve won money or a sweepstakes, or you qualify for a grant.”
Scammers might say you’re owed money from a lottery, contest, inheritance, or some other program, or offer to help you apply for a grant. - “A friend or family member is in trouble.”
Scammers can mimic loved ones in distress, asking you to send money for fines, bails, medical bills, or legal fees.
4. Protect your information from chatbots.
In a 2026 report by Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC), nearly every participant said they were concerned about AI use in their communities, especially among parents and older adults. Some worried about scammers using chatbots to exploit immigrants’ isolation.
Chatbots can hold realistic conversations over text, easily mimicking people’s languages and cultures. Some participants said their parents used ChatGPT to converse in their native languages, including a pre-1975 dialect spoken in South Vietnam. This communication built a false sense of trust and familiarity with chatbots that could leave them open to deception.
Many scammers have started using chatbots to steal people’s information, posing as customer service reps, lawyers, and medical professionals. In the AAJC study, some participants’ parents turned to chatbots for legal advice, unknowingly exposing personal details like immigration status and social security numbers.
Experts warn not to share personal details with chatbots or strangers, unless you know the interaction is legitimate. Be extra cautious of someone you’ve only met through text, email, or social media. Many scammers now use chatbots to carry out devastating financial grooming scams, also known as pig-butchering scams.
Scammers have spent months cultivating fake relationships with strangers over text, sometimes with a chatbot, or by using human-trafficking victims. They’ll send their victim an unsolicited message on social media or a dating app, or text them pretending to have the wrong number. They’ll develop a friendship or romance, eventually convincing the person to make bogus investments. The investments can start small, providing fake returns to appear more convincing. But cases can be devastating, and have led some people to financial ruin.
If you or someone you know falls victim to any scam, act quickly to protect your information.
Some options you have are
- Call your bank, credit card company, or service provider that the scammer has gained access to, and tell them to suspend financial transactions for your accounts
- Place a security freeze on your credit report so that the scammer cannot open new accounts in your name
- Report the crime to local law enforcement, or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
- File a complaint with the FTC through their website or phone number (Available in English and Vietnamese. Press 3 to speak to an interpreter.)
- Scams – (877) 382-4357
- Identity theft – (877) 382-4357
- Seek guidance and support by calling free hotlines
- AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline – (877) 908-3360
- National Elder Fraud Hotline – (833) 372-8311 (Multiple languages available. Ask to speak with an interpreter.)