You’ve probably heard the phrase: “Don’t believe everything you see on the internet.” Now more than ever, it is crucial to question the authenticity of what we see and hear online.
Staying Vigilant Against AI-Powered Fraud
Staying vigilant against AI-powered fraud requires a combination of best practices, including education, authentication, and monitoring. Individuals must be aware of the risks and techniques scammers use to avoid falling prey to their deception. As a simple rule of thumb, individuals should be cautious of unsolicited communications, suspicious links, and requests for personal information.
Implementing robust authentication and verification processes, including two-factor authentication and biometric authentication, can help prevent account takeover and identity theft. Monitoring and analyzing data for suspicious patterns or anomalies can help organizations detect fraudulent activity in real-time.
This can be a challenging task, but here are some steps that can be taken to avoid falling victim.
- Look for visual or audio inconsistencies: Deepfakes often contain small visual or audio inconsistencies that the human eye can detect. Look and listen for indications of abnormal blinking, slight unnatural movements or distortions, or mismatches between lip movements and spoken words.
- Check the source: Be sure to check the original source of any video or audio content. Always verify content that comes from unofficial or unverified sources, as these sources may be more prone to deepfakes.
- Monitor news and media outlets: Stay well-informed about deepfake video technology by closely monitoring news outlets and statements from politicians or influential public figures about deepfake technology.
Tips to Identify and Protect Yourself from Social Engineering Scams
Be wary of unsolicited contacts: Scrutinize all unsolicited messages, emails, or phone calls that ask for personal information or direct you to click on links.
- Verify information sources: Verify the authenticity of information sources by reviewing official websites, calling a reputable number or by contacting customer service directly. Even if someone that sounds familiar is requesting information or money, ask to call them back using a number you have stored for them to verify their identity.
- Avoid clicking on links: Do not click on links in emails, messages or social media from unverified sources, as these may lead to phishing sites or malware.
- Use strong passwords: Use strong passwords, and enable two-factor authentication on sensitive accounts as an additional security measure.
- Be cautious of sharing personal information: Avoid sharing personal information such as bank account number, social security number, and other personally identifiable information to unverified sources.
- Stay updated: Stay updated regarding the latest phishing techniques and social engineering scams by regularly checking credible news sources or following relevant anti-fraud agencies.
By staying vigilant and following these guidelines, you can avoid becoming a victim of social engineering scams. Additionally, it’s recommended to educate family, friends, and coworkers about these types of scams, help them recognize the signs, and encourage them to be equally cautious.
AI-powered fraud is a real and growing threat that demands our attention and effort to combat. The rise of AI-powered scams has made scammers more sophisticated in their tactics and as a result, traditional countermeasures may no longer suffice to detect and prevent them. Staying informed, vigilant, and updated on emerging trends and adopting a collective effort to prevent and report fraud can significantly reduce the risks of falling prey to AI-powered scams. With the right education, training, and measures in place, we can protect ourselves and our organizations from financial loss, reputational damage, and privacy violations while harnessing the potential benefits of AI.
We at Planters First Bank encourage everyone to be proactive in staying ahead of the curve when it comes to AI-powered fraud, and together, we can work towards a safer digital future! In our help section, you can also find additional resources for avoiding scams, how to report scams, and scams that have been recently attempted against our customers.