Scammers are using AI to clone voices and write flawless messages, and older Americans are the main targets. Here is what experts say to change now.
Typos and clumsy wording used to give scams away. Experts who spoke to Business Insider say that is no longer reliable. Scammers now use AI to write clean messages, clone voices and pick the people most likely to fall for a pitch. Older Americans are often the main targets.
Fraud itself is old, starting with mail and landline phone pitches. What is new is the scale and polish. One expert said AI also scans social accounts for personal details, which makes messages feel personal. Another said deepfakes, voice cloning and phishing (fake messages meant to steal your information) are not new, but AI makes them more convincing and easier to send in bulk.
In March 2026, Interpol warned that AI-enhanced fraud is 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods, because AI agents can carry out the fraud for the scammers.
An AARP survey in April found that 4 in 10 older Americans have lost money to fraud. The FTC's Protecting Older Consumers report, which covers 2025, lists online shopping, business impostors, government impostors and investment scams as top fraud types by number of reports. Those, plus romance scams, lead by dollars lost.
Common disguises include the IRS, Medicare and Social Security. Fake tech support callers may claim your bank has been breached. One expert described a retired professor in his mid-60s who sent about $1,200 to an online girlfriend he never met in person or on video. She asked for money about 10 times before he cut ties. The expert believes it was an AI-assisted romance scam.
The experts say not to panic over recent security headlines, including the PHP flaws that led to emergency patches last week. A breach at a company does not automatically mean your own accounts were hacked. It is still a good moment to change your login details. Google and Apple are also working to block scams, especially on phones.
Be wary of any unexpected message that claims to come from a government agency, bank or tech support, or from someone you have only met online. Urgency and repeated requests for money are warning signs. Shame is another risk. Many victims are embarrassed and stay quiet, so families are urged to talk openly and make clear that being fooled does not mean being foolish.
The alert box above lays out the steps, including a family code and a short pause before you click. Share them with parents and grandparents now, before a convincing call or text arrives.
Agree on a family code and a pause-first habit with older relatives now, since AI scams no longer look sloppy.
Morristown police say scammers posing as bank staff are pushing people to withdraw cash, which is very hard to get back once it is handed over.
Read more: Morristown police warn of scam where fake bank staff ask for cashA viral ChatGPT prompt turns what the chatbot remembers about you into a room image. Posting it publicly could give scammers clues to target you.
Read more: Viral ChatGPT room image could hand scammers clues about youA message saying your Amazon account was hacked is often the scam itself. Checking in the Amazon app first can protect your card, gift balance and phone.
Read more: If Amazon says your account was hacked, check before you call
