Scammers have often targeted older adults for financial abuse, and AI can make it even more dangerous. Artificial Intelligence has opened more avenues for scammers to target grandparents. Informing your older family members on how scammers may target them can help reduce the risk of their falling for a fraudulent scheme.
AI Voice Scams
Some scammers will use AI voices to impersonate grandchildren or other family members over the phone. These calls often sound like a family member calling, panicked, asking to send money or a credit card number. AI can help scammers make a more convincing voice match. They may also claim that their phone is dead and that they are calling from another person’s phone. Or, scammers can spoof the number to make it appear like your loved one’s number.
Combatting AI Scam Calls
Instruct your loved one on how to avoid this scam. Firstly, they should hang up and call that family member’s phone. This will help ensure your loved one is not in danger. Your family should come up with a special password or phrase to signal that they are in a crisis. Never give financial information, credit card numbers, social security numbers, and other personal information out over the phone or text without distinct confirmation that it is a trusted loved one on the other end of the line.
Email Scams
Email scams have been a problem for older adults for a long time. AI tools can help scammers impersonate other people or create more convincing emails. These can look like an advertisement, unpaid bills, or family members looking for help. Instruct your loved one not to click on links from suspicious emails and to check the email of the sender for any mistakes in spelling. For suspicious advertisements, they can check with the Better Business Bureau to confirm if it is a real email from the company.
AI Texting Scams
Some scammers will send text messages that appear to be from a business, mail carrier, a bank, the IRS, etc. It may instruct the individual to click on a link or send money. As with the above section, contact the Better Business Bureau for confirmation, or check with customer service from that business directly. Most companies will not text you to pay a bill.
Impersonating a Person They Know Online
Some scammers may impersonate people your loved one knows online. They may set up fake social media profiles or hack into existing ones. If someone acts suspiciously on an online account, instruct your loved one to contact the individual by phone or in person to verify. Never click a link sent out of nowhere from an online profile, and if a link seems suspicious, do not click it.
Internet Romance Fraud
It is easy to impersonate someone online. Lonely older adults can often fall victim to these scams. Catfishing scams can use images found online or generated through AI to make their scams seem more real. Instruct your loved one not to send money, financial information, gift cards, etc., to people they have never met in person online.
Safe Harbor Healthcare Services does not provide medical, healthcare, or financial advice via articles. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for advice.
Safe Harbor Healthcare Services has provided excellent home care on Staten Island since 1967. Our services help older and disabled individuals live safely and independently while giving their families the peace of mind they need. For more information, contact us or call (718)-979-6900.
