Eye on AI: Avoiding scams
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In our Eye on AI series, we've covered how artificial intelligence can benefit education, health care, and even make simple tasks like making a to-do list easier. One important thing to remember is just as we're learning to use this emerging technology, the same goes for the bad guys.
"AI is being used as a tool by malicious actors and scammers just like we use it as a tool." Said UW-Madison cyber security expert Dave Schroeder. Schroeder shared more about how AI s changing the landscape for scammers. "Basically, they're using it as a job aid to make their scam message better and more believable," he said. Scammers are always looking for clever ways to get your money.
Understanding the role AI can play in a scam helps us better protect ourselves. "They're using these to do things like craft more believable phishing messages or text messages that get sent to your phone. They're trying to get you to take urgent action on something and they're also using techniques to create things like deep fakes -- images or even voices," Schroeder said.
While artificial intelligence may be sophisticated technology, it's also easy to use. There's software that scammers can use to clone your voice or anyone else's. It's as simple as taking a video you may have posted to social media and uploading it into the software.
The software can pull your voice from the video and all it needs is about a minute of you speaking in order to clone it. A scammer can then use that, manipulate it, and make it say whatever they want.
"There are phone calls people are getting where a parent or grandparent has said they were sure this was their loved one's voice on the other end asking for help," Schroeder said. Wisconsin's Better Business Bureau is also tracking how AI is changing the way scammers work.
"Artificial Intelligence is the buzz word for this year for 2024. We're still learning about it really," said Lisa Schiller. The BBB says if you're wondering if something could be AI generated look for typos, incorrect or outdated info, or repetitive words. If it's a video or phone call, pay attention to the tone of voice as AI tends to be more robotic and emotionless.
When in doubt, always seek another source to confirm what you're hearing or seeing. AARP Wisconsin is also tracking ai as part of its fraud watch network. Scammers stole more than three billion dollars from older Americans last year. AI increases the need for awareness.
"Our older adults seem to be targeted more because they did not grow up with technology and because technology is advancing," said Amber Miller. Even people who tend to be pretty savvy at detecting scams can be vulnerable to AI threats.
If you run across an AI scam, always report it. The BBB, AARP, and Wisconsin Dept. of Consumer Protection all take scam reports.