Biggest scams of 2025 include AI deepfakes and mass emails
COUNTDOWN OF THE TOP FIVE SCAMS REPORTED TO THE 8 ON YOUR SIDE TEAM IN 2025, AND WE’RE AT NUMBER FOUR. THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE HAS OPENED UP NEW OPTIONS FOR SCAMMERS TRYING TO RIP YOU OFF. CONSUMER INVESTIGATOR BRIAN ROCHE CONTINUES THE COUNTDOWN. LET ME BE VERY CLEAR AT THE TOP HERE, FOLKS. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AI IS NOT A SCAM, BUT SCAMMERS HAVE LEARNED TO USE IT TO CREATE HIGHLY REALISTIC IMAGES, AUDIO AND VIDEO TO DECEIVE VICTIMS. AI POWERED SCAMS ARE NUMBER FOUR ON OUR SCAM LIST FOR 2025. HERE’S A FEW EXAMPLES TO KEEP IN MIND. SCAMMERS WILL USE SHORT AUDIO CLIPS FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO TRY TO CLONE THE VOICE OF YOUR LOVED ONE, OR MAYBE YOUR BOSS, AND THEN CONTACT YOU WITH AN URGENT PLEA FOR MONEY. THEY CAN ALSO CREATE DEEPFAKE VIDEOS OF CELEBRITIES TO PROMOTE FAKE INVESTMENTS AND THINGS LIKE CRYPTOCURRENCY. THE SITES, THE REVIEWS, AND EVEN CEOS AND PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS THERE OFTEN AI GENERATED ROMANCE SCAMMERS. THEY USE AI TO GENERATE FAKE PROFILES, IMAGES AND HUMAN LIKE CONVERSATIONS TO TRY TO BUILD TRUST WITH VICTIMS OVER TIME, EVENTUALLY CONVINCING THEM TO SEND THEM MONEY. AND HERE’S THE SCARY THING ABOUT AI. BASED ON WHAT I’VE SEEN, AI ENABLES THE MASS PRODUCTION OF PERSONALIZED EMAILS AND MESSAGES THAT LACK THOSE TRADITIONAL RED FLAGS LIKE BAD GRAMMAR AND TYPOS. AI CAN ALSO BE USED TO CHANGE A SCAMMERS VOICE, ELIMINATING ANY FOREIGN ACCENTS THAT MAY GIVE THEM AWAY. SO TO PROTECT YOURSELF, BE SKEPTICAL OF URGENCY. SCAMMERS USE TACTICS TO PRESSURE VICTIMS INTO ACTING QUICKLY. IF YOU RECEIVE AN UNEXPECTED OR SUSPICIOUS REQUEST FOR MONEY OR INFORMATION, BREAK OFF CONTACT WITH THAT PERSON AND CONFIRM WHAT YOU’RE BEING TOLD ON YOUR OWN. DON’T RESPOND TO ANY TEXTS, LINKS, OR PHONE NUMBERS THAT SCAMMERS MAY GIVE YOU. PAUSE AND THINK BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION, ESPECIALLY BEFORE SENDING LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY AGAIN. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ITSELF IS NOT A SCAM, BUT SCAMMERS HAVE LEARNED TO USE IT AS A WEAPON. SO YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPOT THEIR SCAMS AND PROTECT YOUR MONEY.
Biggest scams of 2025 include AI deepfakes and mass emails
Updated: 8:40 PM EST Dec 30, 2025
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The development of artificial intelligence has opened up new options for scammers trying to rip you off. Artificial Intelligence (AI) itself is not a scam. However, scammers have learned to use it to create highly realistic images, audio and video to deceive victims. AI-powered scams are number four on our top scams list for 2025. Here are some examples of AI-powered scams Scammers use short audio clips found on social media to clone the voice of a loved one or maybe a boss, then contact their victim with an urgent plea for money. Deepfake videos of celebrities are created to promote fake investments in things like cryptocurrency. The sites, reviews and even CEOs in promotional videos are often AI-generated. Romance scammers use AI to generate fake profiles, images, and human-like conversations to build trust with victims over time, eventually convincing them to spend money. AI enables the mass production of personalized emails and messages that lack the traditional red flags, like bad grammar and typos AI can also be used to change a scammer’s voice, eliminating any foreign accents that may give them away To protect yourself, be skeptical or urgency. Scammers often use tactics to pressure victims into acting quickly. If you receive an unexpected or suspicious request for money or information, break off contact and confirm what you’re being told on your own. Do not respond to any texts, links or phone number the suspected scammer gives you. Pause and think before taking any action, especially before sending large amounts of money.
The development of artificial intelligence has opened up new options for scammers trying to rip you off.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) itself is not a scam. However, scammers have learned to use it to create highly realistic images, audio and video to deceive victims.
AI-powered scams are number four on our top scams list for 2025.
Here are some examples of AI-powered scams
- Scammers use short audio clips found on social media to clone the voice of a loved one or maybe a boss, then contact their victim with an urgent plea for money.
- Deepfake videos of celebrities are created to promote fake investments in things like cryptocurrency. The sites, reviews and even CEOs in promotional videos are often AI-generated.
- Romance scammers use AI to generate fake profiles, images, and human-like conversations to build trust with victims over time, eventually convincing them to spend money.
- AI enables the mass production of personalized emails and messages that lack the traditional red flags, like bad grammar and typos
- AI can also be used to change a scammer’s voice, eliminating any foreign accents that may give them away
To protect yourself, be skeptical or urgency. Scammers often use tactics to pressure victims into acting quickly.
If you receive an unexpected or suspicious request for money or information, break off contact and confirm what you’re being told on your own.
Do not respond to any texts, links or phone number the suspected scammer gives you.
Pause and think before taking any action, especially before sending large amounts of money.
