Scammers use whatever means to get what they want and what they want is our money and our personal information. Scammers use the telephone, snail mail, and in-person approaches but the world of scamming moves with the times. Scammers have modified and improved the methods they use as technology advances.
Media generated by artificial intelligence or AI is in the news a great deal. The technology is not new (“The History of Artificial Intelligence” from Harvard University gives you some historical perspective) but the technology is advancing by leaps and bounds. Have you seen the picture of the Pope in the fluffy white jacket? That was computer generated. It’s not just pictures. It’s voices. Rossen Reports had an interesting demonstration of cloned voices. And it’s not just voices. It’s video. Check out this deep fake video of Tom Cruise. It’s pretty scary, isn’t it?
Consider the implications. Your favorite actor endorses a product and you order it. You may never see your order. The politician you support needs money so you donate. Does ‘your’ politician get that donation? Probably not. In addition, your personal information is now out there. You get the call from your grandchild saying they are in trouble and need money. But – is it really them? Maybe. More importantly – maybe not. Refer to the abovementioned demonstration of cloned voices.
How do they do that??!! The tools are out there for anyone to create the fakes. Just Google “AI”. Read this article from Business Insider that explains deep fakes and AI. We need to be aware of the scope of these tools. Don’t accept that information is what it seems to be.
Another scam that is making the news is the brushing scam. Like AI, brushing is not new. Brushing scams happen when boxes of unordered merchandise from companies like Amazon start arriving. You didn’t order anything nor did anyone you know. There is no return address. The items vary but are often lightweight and inexpensive to ship.
The scamming companies’ payoff is that they can make it appear that you are a verified buyer of merchandise and that you offered a review of their products because they have a legitimate name and address and merchandise was sent to that person at that address. They then post a fake positive review which often translates to more sales for them. It’s a win for the scammers.
If it’s Amazon, go to their customer service page for information on unordered merchandise. Change your account passwords. (Do NOT use 12345 or your pet’s name.) You are allowed to keep the merchandise. Know your rights. The Federal Trade Commission offers information on what to do if you receive unordered merchandise.
Scammers are smart, technologically savvy, and they have no scruples. You need to be educated about scams and how scams are perpetrated. Be cautious and don’t trust everything you see and hear!
Stay safe!
