Artificial Intelligence-powered imitation scams skyrocket by 148%, driven by deepfakes and voice clones.
In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, a concerning trend has emerged: an alarming 148% spike in impersonation scam cases between April 2024 and March 2025. These scams, fuelled by advanced AI technology, are increasingly sophisticated, using deepfake videos, cloned voices, and AI-written emails to deceive unsuspecting victims.
Scammers are supercharging old schemes with disturbingly realistic tricks, employing AI-driven chatbots and cloned voice agents to lure victims into divulging sensitive information. Over half of these impersonation scams last year involved scammers posing as legitimate businesses, and another 21% pretended to be financial institutions.
The FBI has issued a warning about the use of AI to launch highly realistic phishing campaigns and deepfake impersonations. Two notable cybercriminal groups, UNC6040 and UNC6395, have been identified as using AI tools for social engineering, phishing, and data theft campaigns, particularly targeting Salesforce platforms. Another global phishing operation is led by Joseph Ogundipe from Nigeria, linked to the Raccoon0365 phishing kits.
To combat these AI-assisted scams, businesses and individuals alike are urged to invest in employee education and technical defenses. Regularly updating your software and devices is key to securing them against these threats. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever available can add an extra layer of security.
Identity theft protection and monitoring services can provide an extra safety net against AI scams and data breaches. Services like NordProtect offer a comprehensive suite of safeguards, including dark web monitoring, credit and identity tracking, and up to $1 million in identity theft recovery insurance coverage.
Remember, legitimate institutions rarely insist on bypassing all standard procedures at a moment's notice. If you feel undue urgency, verify through a second channel before taking any action. Trust your instincts if a voice or video interaction feels off, as AI technologies may have subtle glitches.
Lastly, be extremely wary of unsolicited requests for sensitive information or payment, especially through unconventional methods. AI-generated phishing messages are often immaculately formatted and grammatically correct, yet they might lack personal details. If something seems amiss, it's better to err on the side of caution. Stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay safe in the digital age.
