Guides

Quick Answer: AI deepfakes clone faces and voices using machine learning. Scammers use them in fake news, investment scams, romance fraud, and emergency calls. Verify by contacting the person on a known number, checking official sources, and reporting to the FTC or FBI IC3. AI-generated deepfakes have changed what we can trust with our eyes and ears. A short video clip can now show a public figure making a statement they never made. A phone message can carry the voice of a family member asking for help. These clips are created with machine learning tools that learn the patterns of a face or voice and then generate new footage or audio. The result is not a cheap impersonation. It can match tone, accent, breathing, and small facial movements well enough to fool someone under stress. Scammers know this. They use the technology to turn ordinary fraud into a convincing personal emergency or a fake news event. ...

Quick Answer: Report every AI scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and, for internet-enabled fraud or wire loss, to the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov. Also report to the platform where you were contacted and to your bank or payment app. Save screenshots, addresses, messages, and transaction IDs before they disappear. AI scams move quickly because the same tools that make chatbots sound human also help criminals launch hundreds of attacks at once. You might meet a fake romance through an AI romance chatbot scam, get a deepfake call from a supposed executive, or test a fake AI tool that steals your login. The good news is that every one of these incidents can be reported. The order matters. You need to secure evidence, notify federal agencies, flag the platform, and contact your bank. This guide walks through each path and what to save before you start. ...

Quick Answer: Fake AI licensing deals, bogus copyright claims, and sham image marketplaces use urgency to steal fees or data. Verify senders through official sites, check business records, search complaints, and never pay to receive royalties or settle a claim. Report fraud to the FTC or FBI IC3. Creators now face a wave of scams disguised as legitimate opportunities. A message arrives about an AI tool license, a copyright notice, or a marketplace that wants your work. It looks official. It asks for a fee or personal data. Many creators lose money before they realize the message was fake. The Federal Trade Commission reports that consumers lost $10 billion to fraud in 2023, a record. Scammers are using AI terms to make old cons feel current. This guide explains three main schemes and how to check them. ...

Quick Answer: AI scams targeting older adults in 2026 rely on voice cloning, deepfake video, romance chatbots, and fake alerts. Family members can protect loved ones by creating a safe word, freezing credit, screening calls, locking down devices, verifying money requests, and reporting fraud to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. AI scams aimed at older adults have become far more convincing. Scammers now clone a grandchild’s voice from a short social media clip. They create video calls with a face that moves and speaks like a real relative. These tricks bypass the old advice to look for poor grammar or blurry images. The AI grandparent scam is a prime example of how fast this fraud moves. A short panic call can convince a loving grandparent to wire thousands of dollars. ...

Quick Answer: Set a family code word and make a callback rule before any emergency money request. Hang up and call your grandchild on a saved number. Slow down any urgent wire transfer. Report attempts to the FTC and FBI IC3. The phone rings late at night. A young voice says it is your grandson. He is crying. He says he caused a car accident and needs bail money right now. The voice sounds exactly like him. That is why AI grandparent scams are so dangerous. Scammers use short audio clips from social media to clone a grandchild’s voice. Then they call seniors and invent a fake emergency. The FTC warns that voice cloning makes impostor scams much harder to detect. Consumers reported losing $10 billion to fraud in 2023, with imposter scams among the most common. If your family does not have a plan, a senior can wire thousands within minutes. ...