⚠️Understanding AI Scams

🤖What Are AI Scams?

Artificial intelligence can be used for helpful tools—but scammers are also using it to
trick people. AI can create realistic emails, phone calls, images, videos, and even
voices that sound like people you know or trust. These scams often try to rush you or
scare you into acting quickly.

Fake Emergency Phone Calls (Voice Cloning)
Scammers use short audio clips from social media or voicemail to copy a person’s
voice. They may pretend to be a family member, coworker, or supervisor asking for
urgent help or money.

Deepfake Videos & Images

AI can create fake photos or videos that look real. These may be used to:

• Pretend someone said or did something they didn’t
• Push fake investment offers
• Threaten a victim to pay money to stop the images from being shared

Smarter Phishing Emails & Texts

AI‑written scams look professional and personal. They may reference your job, recent
activities, or interests to trick you into clicking links or opening attachments.

Social Media Impersonation

Scammers create fake accounts or use AI chatbots to pretend to be friends or coworkers. They slowly build trust, then ask for money or personal information.

Deepfake Videos & Images

Fake videos, endorsements, or messages promise “guaranteed returns.” These offers may look polished but are designed to steal money.

🧠Why These Scams Work

AI scams are effective because they often:

• Create urgency (“Act now!”)
• Build trust over time
• Use realistic voices, writing, or images that feel authentic

✅How to Protect Yourself (and Your School)

• Pause and verify unexpected requests—especially for money or sensitive
  information
• Confirm using a trusted method (call a known number or visit an official
  website yourself)
• Be cautious of urgent payment requests, especially gift cards, wire transfers,
  or cryptocurrency
• Limit what you share online (job details, phone numbers, voice recordings)
• Use strong, unique passwords and enable multifactor authentication (MFA)
• Watch for small red flags like unusual wording or requests that feel “off”

🆘If You Think You’ve Been Targeted

1. Stop responding immediately
2. Contact your bank or financial institution if money or account info was shared
3. Report the incident using your organization’s reporting procedures
4. For personal incidents, file a report with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint
   Center (IC3).
5. Change passwords and turn on MFA

🛑Verify Before You Act

Scammers rely on pressure. Taking one extra minute to double‑check a request can
prevent serious harm. Always verify before sending money, sharing information, or
clicking links.
Content adapted from:
New York State Office of Information Technology Services (NYS ITS) –
Understanding AI Scams (March 17, 2026)
Understanding AI Scams | Office of Information Technology Services