Gone Phishing: How to Protect Yourself from AI Scams

Artificial intelligence (AI) is advancing quickly, and although it can be helpful in some cases, there are many who are using it to take advantage of everyday people. Today, AI makes it possible for scammers to impersonate the people you know and trust, the businesses that you work with, and your own financial institution.

No matter how realistic it may seem, the methods are all the same and the tips and tricks for spotting a scam haven’t changed.

How Scammers Use AI

Scams have been around for a long time, and they haven’t changed much. With AI, scammers can make phishing attempts sound more believable and produce them a lot faster. They may:

• Clone voices: AI can mimic someone’s voice using clips from social media or any other kind of audio recording. They may call you, pretending to be a loved one, and claim to be in jail, in a car accident, or stranded and ask you for money. It’s best to hang up and double check with that person or someone close to them before you send any money.
• Make fake videos and images: AI can create videos and images, called deepfakes, of people who don’t exist or manipulate images/videos of real people. They can use them to create fake social media profiles, create videos of financial experts “endorsing” bad investments, or even join video calls as someone else.
• Create fake websites: AI makes it easy to build lookalike websites that copy a real company’s logo, branding, and name. They may send an email or text with a link to a fake login page or use an AI chatbot to pose as customer support. It’s important to always double check a link to see where it’s sending you before you click.
• Draft convincing messages: With AI, scammers can draft messages without the usual grammar mistakes and typos. They can copy the style and tone of a real business or financial institution. They can also find information about you from online profiles to make these messages sound more legit.
• Run scams on a larger scale: AI helps scammers run several different conversations and scams at one time. They can respond instantly and adjust the scam based on your response. Each conversation is tailored to you, and can feel a lot more real.

What to Look Out For

Because AI can make a scam look and sound so real, the usual gut check of “does this seem legitimate?” isn’t always enough anymore. They may know personal information from a public profile or use someone else’s voice, but they still have the same warning signs that you can look out for:

• Urgency, fear, and pressure: They may impersonate a loved one and tell you they’re in trouble, or pretend to be an organization and tell you there is something wrong with your account or payment. They want you to be emotional so you act without thinking first.
• Suspicious contact: Make sure to check where the message is coming from. Even if it looks like it is a call or email from an organization or loved one, it might be spoofed and they can use AI to sound like someone you know. Don’t respond or send money until you verify it is real.
• Unusual requests: If they’re asking for payment or personal information, it may be a scam. Wire transfers, gift cards, and payment apps are difficult to reverse, and if they really are who they say they are, they shouldn’t demand this information or money from you.

What Beehive Will Never Ask You For

We will never ask you for personal information through an unsolicited call or text. Caller ID can appear to be Beehive. If you receive a sudden call or message asking for your:

• Member number,
• Username/password,
• Card number,
• Social Security number,
• Date of birth, or
• Security/verification code,

Hang up the call or ignore the text and contact us directly at (208) 656-1000.

Pause, Verify, Contact

When in doubt, follow the advice of our IT director:

“The technology behind these scams keeps getting better, but the process hasn’t changed. Scammers still need you to act before you think. Any message that creates panic or a deadline should get a second look, no matter how polished it seems. Beehive is here to support your financial well-being, not pressure or rush you.”

If you receive an email, message, or phone call and think it may be an AI scam, stop and check:

• Email addresses or phone numbers: Is it the same as on the organization’s website? Look at simple changes, like .com instead of .org or .gov, or anything misspelled.
• Links or attachments: Will it take you to a legitimate website? You can use your mouse to hover over it on a desktop, or press and hold on a phone to double check the link.
• What they’re asking: Does the email ask you to confirm personal information or send money? They may not be who they say they are.

If you’re unsure, don’t reply, click any links, or open attachments. Before you send money, check with the person or organization using a number you trust. You can also call us, and we’ll help you figure out whether the message is real.

Already clicked a link or shared information? Contact us immediately at (208) 656-1000. It happens, and the sooner we know, the faster we can protect your accounts.

Still Have Questions?

• What is an AI scam?
  • An AI scam is when a scammer uses artificial intelligence (AI) to make a scam sound more believable and realistic. This often comes in the forms of phone calls, where they mimic another person’s voice, or through tailored emails or text messages that copy the tone and style of a trusted business.
• How can I tell if a voice or video is AI-generated?
  • It may be difficult to tell if a voice or video is really AI. Instead of watching for its tone or waiting for a slip-up, it’s best to hang up and call the person or business with a trusted phone number for verification.
• Can scammers make it look like Beehive is calling or texting me?
  • Scammers have been able to spoof caller ID for a while, and now they can use AI to act like an employee of Beehive. If you’re ever unsure if the call or text is from Beehive, end the conversation and call us directly at (208) 656-1000.
• Will Beehive ever ask for my verification code or online banking password?
  • We will never ask you to provide verification codes or online banking information over an unsolicited phone call or text.
• What should I do if I think I responded to an AI scam?
  • If you responded to an AI scam, call Beehive at (208) 656-1000 right away. We can freeze your accounts and protect them from potential fraud.