The Three AI Scams Targeting You Right Now (And How to Protect Yourself)
- Apr 29
- 5 min read
My grandmother called me in a panic last Tuesday.
"Carson, I just got a call from someone who sounded EXACTLY like your cousin, saying he was in jail and needed $5,000 wired immediately. But when I called your cousin back, he was fine. What's going on?"
AI voice cloning. She almost fell for it.
Why These Scams Work So Well
The scams targeting older adults right now aren't like the old "Nigerian prince" emails. Those were obviously fake.
These new AI-powered scams are different. They use your voice. Your face. Your writing style. They're so realistic that even tech-savvy people get fooled.
And scammers know that older adults are often:
More trusting of phone calls and emails
Less familiar with AI technology
More likely to have savings to steal
Caring people who want to help family in crisis
You're not the target because you're gullible. You're the target because you're kind.
Scam #1: The "Grandchild in Trouble" Voice Clone
What It Is
Scammers use AI to clone your grandchild's voice from social media videos or voicemails. Then they call you pretending to be in an emergency - arrested, in an accident, stranded somewhere - and beg you to wire money immediately.
The voice sounds EXACTLY like your grandchild. The panic sounds real. The details sound believable.
How to Spot It
🚩 Red Flag #1: They ask for money wired, sent via gift cards, or through apps like Venmo
🚩 Red Flag #2: They say, "Don't tell Mom and Dad" or "Don't call anyone else."
🚩 Red Flag #3: They create urgent pressure - "I only have one phone call" or "I need it in the next hour."
🚩 Red Flag #4: The phone number is unfamiliar or blocked
How to Protect Yourself
Create a family code word. Right now, today, tell your children and grandchildren: "If you ever need emergency money, use the code word 'pineapple' (or whatever word you choose) in the conversation. No code word, no money."
Hang up and call them back. Always. Even if the voice sounds real. Even if they're crying. Say "I'll call you right back" and call their actual number. If they're truly in trouble, they can wait 2 minutes.
Never send money without verification. No real emergency requires you to send gift cards or wire money before you can talk to another family member.
Scam #2: The Fake Video Call (Deepfake)
What It Is
Scammers create realistic videos of people you know - a friend, a financial advisor, even a celebrity - using AI. They might video call you, send you a recorded message, or show you a news clip that looks real but is completely fake.
They use these fake videos to:
Convince you to invest in fake opportunities.
Get you to share personal information.
Make you believe a trusted person is endorsing something.
How to Spot It
🚩 Red Flag #1: The video quality is slightly off - weird blinking, odd mouth movements, or unnatural pauses
🚩 Red Flag #2: The person avoids answering specific personal questions you ask
🚩 Red Flag #3: They're asking you to do something they've never mentioned before (invest money, share account info)
🚩 Red Flag #4: The call drops or has "technical issues" when you ask detailed questions
How to Protect Yourself
Ask specific personal questions. If someone video calls claiming to be your nephew, ask about his dog's name, where he went for Christmas, or something only the real person would know. AI can clone voices and faces, but it doesn't know personal details.
End the call and reach out separately. If your "financial advisor" video calls with an urgent investment opportunity, end the call and phone their office directly using the number you have saved.
Remember: Real people don't pressure you. Any legitimate investment, opportunity, or request can wait 24 hours for you to verify it's real.
Scam #3: The Perfectly Written Phishing Email
What It Is
Remember those obvious scam emails full of spelling mistakes and bad grammar? AI fixed that.
Now scammers use AI to write perfectly professional emails that look like they're from your bank, the IRS, your doctor's office, or even your church. The grammar is perfect. The tone is right. The logo looks real.
They're trying to get you to:
Click a link that steals your information.
Reply with personal details.
Call a fake phone number.
Download something that infects your computer.
How to Spot It
🚩 Red Flag #1: They create urgency - "Your account will be closed in 24 hours" or "Immediate action required."
🚩 Red Flag #2: They ask you to verify information by clicking a link
🚩 Red Flag #3: The email address looks almost right but has small differences (amazonsupport@amaz0n.com instead of amazon.com)
🚩 Red Flag #4: They threaten consequences if you don't act fast
How to Protect Yourself
Never click links in emails. Instead, open your web browser and type the website address yourself. If your bank really needs you to verify something, you can log in the normal way and check.
Call the company directly. Use the phone number from your credit card, your statement, or their website - NOT the number in the email. Ask "Did you send me an email about my account?"
Delete and verify. If you get an urgent email, delete it. Then contact the company yourself through their official website or phone number to ask if it was real.
The Simple Rule That Stops Most Scams
Here's what ties all three scams together:
Scammers need you to act fast before you think.
Real emergencies let you take time to verify.
Real companies don't threaten you.
Real family members understand if you need to call them back.
The moment someone creates urgent pressure - "You need to act NOW" - that's your biggest red flag.
What to Do If You Think You've Been Scammed
Don't be embarrassed. These scams fool smart people every day.
Immediately:
1. Contact your bank and credit card companies.
2. Change your passwords
3. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
4. Tell your family so they know what to watch for
Then:
1. Consider freezing your credit.
2. Monitor your accounts daily for a few weeks.
3. Tell your friends - they're likely targets too.
The Bottom Line
AI makes these scams more convincing than ever before. But they all have the same weakness: they need you to act before you think.
Slow down. Verify. Hang up and call back. Ask questions. Take your time.
The people who love you will understand. The scammers will move on to easier targets.
And maybe - just maybe - understanding how these AI scams work will make regular AI tools feel less scary. Because now you know: AI is a tool. It's what people choose to do with it that matters.
Want to learn more about staying safe with AI? Get our AI for Beginners Handout at www.carsontech.ai/store. Or book a coaching session where we will walk you through AI safely: www.carsontech.ai/about.
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