FRESNO, California – Cody Sarhan, Communications Specialist
AI. You’ve heard the term thrown around so much lately, it’s practically become background noise. Love it or hate it, AI isn’t just sticking around — it’s completely flipping industries upside down. While it’s solving problems and making life easier in a lot of ways, it’s also handing scammers shiny new tools to pull off their dirty tricks. And trust us, they’re getting good at it.
“Scammers can utilize AI to mimic the voices of relatives or friends, attempting to deceive individuals into providing financial assistance or divulging sensitive information.” — Dr. Klaus Schenk of Verimatrix
It’s creepy. It’s sneaky. And it’s why staying sharp is no longer optional.
Learn more: How Xobee can help safeguard your business data
Stay Ahead of the Scam Game
So, how do you outsmart these AI-powered scammers? Start with the basics:
- Spot weird details — AI isn’t perfect, and sometimes the patterns show.
- Don’t trust out-of-the-blue messages or calls, no matter how “official” they seem.
- Verify everything using a phone number or method you know is legit.
And if you care at all about your business, keep your cybersecurity tools updated. Old software is like leaving your front door wide open with a neon sign saying, “Come on in!”
The Top 5 AI Scams Turning Heads (and Emptying Wallets)
Here’s a breakdown of the nastiest AI scams out there, so you can spot them before they spot you:
Deepfakes
Deepfakes are the showstoppers of AI scams. Scammers create hyper-realistic videos or audio clips using actual footage to make you believe something — or someone — that isn’t real. Yeah, it’s that scary. Not only do they ruin reputations, but they also leave victims financially devastated.
Phishing
Phishing scams are bad enough, but AI tools like ChatGPT have turned them into a new level of nasty. These aren’t your uncle’s typo-riddled scam emails — these are polished, professional-looking messages that feel 100% real. Stay skeptical.
Voice Cloning
This one’s a gut punch. AI can now clone voices with terrifying accuracy. Scammers are calling people, sounding just like their kids or spouses, spinning a story about some urgent crisis, and draining their bank accounts. If you get a call like this, take a breath, ask a question only the real person would know, and verify it before taking action.
Fake Applications
AI can create fake documents, photos, or even IDs so convincing they can fool verification processes. Fraud expert Jeremy Asher says AI can be used by scammers to “disguise as genuine people” and he’s right. It’s like handing scammers a skeleton key to your personal and financial life.
Review Bombing
AI bots don’t just go after individuals — they’re attacking businesses too. Review bombing, where bots flood a company’s online reviews with fake negatives, can tank reputations and scare off customers. It’s a cold reminder that no one is safe from these scams, no matter how big or small you are.
Xobee Networks: Your Cybersecurity Partner
Look, the internet’s a wild place, and it’s only getting trickier. But you don’t have to face it alone. At Xobee, we specialize in keeping you — and your business — safe from whatever cyber madness comes your way.
Whether it’s robust virus and spam protection, secure cloud hosting, or fail-safe backup and disaster recovery, we’ve got you covered. Our team of expert technicians is just a call away.
Xobee Networks now has engineers servicing clients within Fresno, Clovis, Madera, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco & the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Las Vegas, Bakersfield, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Anaheim, Palm Springs, and more.
Cody Sarhan | Communications Specialist, Xobee Networks
