How Can AI Spoofing Affect You?

Highlights:

• AI spoofing uses fake voices, videos and messages to imitate people and organizations.
• Voice cloning calls, deepfake videos, and AI-written texts are common AI spoofing tactics.
• Warning signs of AI spoofing include urgency, unnatural speech and unusual payment requests.
• Tightening social media privacy and monitoring your credit can help protect your identity.

Fraudsters, scammers and thieves have been around for many years. Spoofing is a common tactic that scammers use because it relies on your emotions. Spoofing happens when someone pretends to be a person or organization you trust. The goal is usually to trick you into giving up personal information or sending money. Spoofing can occur via phone calls, emails, texts, social media or fake websites.

Now, artificial intelligence (AI) is making spoofing more advanced. Scammers use AI to copy voices, create fake videos and write professional messages. That makes it harder to tell what is real and what is a scam. Understanding AI spoofing can help you protect yourself and your family.

What is AI spoofing?

AI spoofing is a type of scam where criminals use AI to impersonate someone. That “someone” could be a family member, your boss, your bank or even a government agency. AI tools can recreate a person's voice, writing style or appearance. A scammer may use a short audio clip from social media to generate a voice that sounds almost identical. They can also use photos and videos to create realistic deepfakes. Sharing too much online can increase your risk. Details like your workplace, child's name, school or plans can help build a believable story. The more they know, the easier it is for them to sound convincing when they contact you.

What are the types of AI spoofing?

AI spoofing can take several forms. Here are some of the most common types.

1. AI Voice Spoofing (Vishing)
Vishing is short for “voice phishing". Scammers use AI to copy a person's voice and call you. They may pretend to be your child, spouse or manager. The most common vishing scams involve fake emergencies. The caller claims they need money right away and may use your spouse or child's voice to fool you.

2. Deepfake Videos
Deepfake videos are created using AI to make it look like someone said or did something they never did. Scammers use deepfakes to spread false information or trick someone into trusting them.

3. AI-powered Phishing and Smishing
Phishing scams usually come through email. Smishing scams come through text messages. AI can help scammers write cleaner messages that sound realistic. They may even use personal details pulled from social media to make the message feel more real.

4. Biometric Spoofing
Some scammers try to fool facial recognition or fingerprint systems. They may use AI-generated images, fake video clips or stolen data to access an account.

5. AI Sidebar and Browser Spoofing
This type of scam uses fake pop-ups or browser windows that look like real warnings. These "warnings" may look like they are coming from a bank, a tech company or antivirus software. These messages often claim your account is locked or your device is infected. The goal is to get you to click a link or call a fake support number.

How can you spot AI spoofing?

AI spoofing may look and feel real, but many scams still leave clues behind. Many AI videos and sound bytes leave behind artifacts. These could be unnatural pauses, strange speech rhythm, or faint background humming. Most AI scams have a sense of urgency or secrecy, such as “act now” or “don't tell anyone”. They may also ask for unusual payments like gift cards, bitcoin or wire transfers.

Pay attention to the tone of the message sent to you. Messages that do not match the person's normal behavior or tone can be an AI scam. Always pay attention to the email addresses, phone numbers or website links. If they seem suspicious, verify with the contact in question.

Independent verification is one of the best ways to protect yourself. If someone claims to be your bank, hang up and call the official number on your card or on the company website. If someone claims to be a family member, contact them through a known number. You can also ask a question only the real person would know.

How can Equifax^® help if I become a victim of AI spoofing?

The best protection starts with reducing how much information scammers can access. That's why it's important to take steps to lower your risk. Make your social media accounts private. Avoid posting personal details like your address, birthday or travel plans. Set up a “safe word” with close friends and family. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) that does not rely only on biometrics. Make sure to look for any unusual activity on your accounts.

If you think your personal information has been stolen, it is important to watch your credit. Scammers may use stolen data to open accounts in your name. Equifax Complete™ Premier can help you protect your identity. We track your credit and alert you to suspicious activity. It can also help you take action faster if signs of identity theft appear.