AI-powered social engineering scams are getting savvier. Here's how consumers can protect themselves
Social engineering and AI-driven fraud are climbing to the top of global security concerns. The World Economic Forum lists them among the biggest cybersecurity threats of 2025. And the threat is no longer just spam emails with obvious typos. Today's scams are targeted, convincing, and increasingly powered by artificial intelligence.
We're not just talking about phishing links or fake support calls. We're talking about deepfaked voicemails from loved ones. Phony messages that sound like your boss. Emails that mirror your own writing style. AI makes it easy to personalize deception on a massive scale.
In this article, Heimdal breaks down where social engineering started, how it's evolving with AI, and who's most likely to fall for it. We'll highlight real-world examples and finish with straightforward steps to help individuals and organizations protect themselves.
Social engineering relies on psychological manipulation. Scammers trick people into revealing personal information or taking actions they wouldn't normally consider. Basically, it's convincing someone to act against their interests, exposing their private or confidential information.
The concept isn't new. Early scams go back to in-person cons. But the digital shift changed everything. The internet opened new ways to deceive people. Online platforms gave scammers more reach, resulting in faster, broader, and more convincing scams.
According to the FBI's 2024 IC3 Report, this explosion in connectivity has dramatically expanded the scale of attacks.
No one is immune to social engineering, but some people and places see more damage than others.
Older adults face the highest losses. In 2024, individuals 60 and older reported the most complaints to the Internet Crime Complaint Center. They also lost more money than any other age group at over $4.8 billion, up 43% from 2023. Phishing/spoofing and tech support scams hit this group hardest.
Where you live also matters. California, Texas, Florida, and New York had the most reported complaints and the highest losses last year. California saw over $2.5 billion in losses, while Texas lost more than $1.3 billion and Florida about $1 billion.
Organizations are just as vulnerable. The WEF's 2025 Outlook highlights how critical sectors, such as government, healthcare, finance, and infrastructure, face heightened cyber risks.
Today's scams build on familiar tricks but are more convincing. However, classic methods still dominate. Phishing, business email compromise (BEC), romance scams, and fake tech support calls remain go-to techniques. In 2024, the FBI received over 193,000 phishing and spoofing complaints, and BEC scams caused $2.77 billion in losses. AI is making scams like these harder to spot.
Deepfakes. Scammers fake a loved one's voice or mimic an executive in a video.
Hyper-personalized phishing. AI crafts clean, accurate, and targeted emails.
Automation. Large-scale attacks launch in seconds with little effort.
The cost is staggering. According to the IC3 report, investment fraud (often AI-driven) led to $6.57 billion in losses in 2024. Cryptocurrency fraud reached $9.3 billion, with adults over 60 most affected. What was once obvious is now polished and personal.
Urgency and fear remain core tools among scammers. One common scam begins with a fake call or message claiming a loved one is in danger. Victims are pressured to act fast—send money, share banking info, or buy gift cards. Empathy-driven scams work just as well. Romance scams build trust and then ask for money.
The latest twist is generative AI tools. Criminals now use them to build fake identities and clone online profiles. The IC3 warns that this tactic is spreading, especially in financial fraud, with criminals using AI-generated text, images, audio, and video.
Whether it's fear or empathy, the goal is the same. Scammers hope to convince victims that a problem is real and get them to act before thinking.
Stopping these scams starts with spotting the signs.
Verify money or data requests through a separate, trusted communication channel.
Question urgency. Don't act on impulse when receiving unsolicited messages.
Look for deepfake signs, such as robotic speech or visual glitches.
Use strong passwords and enable MFA.
Train employees to detect phishing and fraud attempts.
Require verification for fund transfers and sensitive data requests.
Use strong email filtering and anti-phishing tools.
Report scams at IC3.gov or contact your local FBI office.
Social engineering isn't slowing down. It's adapting, and fast. AI gives scammers new tools to make old tricks far more believable. What used to be low-effort deception is now hyper-targeted, high-tech manipulation.
But while the tools may be new, the core defense remains the same: awareness, verification, and quick reporting. Think before acting, pause when something feels rushed, ask questions, and don't be afraid to confirm through another channel. Technology can help, too. MFA, strong passwords, and smart filters all put up real barriers between scammers and their targets.
The FBI urges everyone, individuals and businesses included, to report scams and share information. Even one report could help someone else avoid the same trap. Staying ahead of AI-driven scams requires preparation. The more you know, the harder it is to be fooled.
This story was produced by Heimdal and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
43 minutes ago
- CNN
Colorado antisemitic attack suspect to appear in federal court on Friday amid widespread fear over antisemitic attacks
The Egyptian man accused of carrying out an antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, is set to appear in federal court on Friday – a day after he was charged with 28 counts of attempted murder in connection to a firebombing that has sparked widespread fear across the Jewish community. Mohamed Soliman, 45, allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set people on fire during a downtown event held in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The attack occurred on the eve of Shavuot, a Jewish holiday, and less than two weeks after a separate antisemitic attack in Washington, DC, where two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot dead. In a Public Service Announcement Thursday, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security highlighted 'potential public safety concerns related to ongoing threats to Jewish and Israeli communities.' Soliman faces a federal hate crime charge in connection with the Boulder attack, an affidavit shows. He faces life in prison if convicted of the federal charge, acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell said Monday. On Thursday, Soliman appeared in court from a room in the Boulder County Jail before Colorado District Judge Nancy Salomone to face state charges. Wearing an orange zip-up jacket, Soliman nodded in response to the judge's questions. He faces 118 counts, including 28 counts of first-degree attempted murder, according to court documents filed in the Boulder District Court. Soliman also faces counts of felony assault, incendiary device charges, along with one count of animal cruelty, the document shows. CNN has reached out to his attorney for comment. A total of 62 of those counts relate to the victims. If convicted, Soliman could face up to 48 years in prison for each victim, said Michael Dougherty, the district attorney for Colorado's 20th Judicial District. The attack injured at least 15 people – including a Holocaust survivor – as well as a dog. The victims included eight women and seven men between the ages of 25 and 88, according to the FBI, with several suffering severe burns. Three victims remained hospitalized as of Thursday, Dougherty said. He is due in court for a preliminary hearing on his state charges on July 15. During the attack, Soliman reportedly yelled 'Free Palestine,' according to the FBI and later told authorities that 'he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead,' an affidavit said. Authorities are investigating whether Soliman has any underlying mental health issues, a source familiar with the investigation previously told CNN. Investigators are also examining a notebook left behind by Soliman, which includes a manifesto written in English with some lines in Arabic, according to a law enforcement source. Police recovered the notebook after Soliman directed them to its location. Investigators are also reviewing videos Soliman recorded on his phone, featuring him speaking in both English and Arabic, the source said. One such video, which has surfaced on social media, appears to show Soliman speaking in Arabic while driving. CNN has not independently confirmed the video's authenticity. The attack is one of multiple recent incidents that has increased fear among the Jewish community in the US. 'The ongoing Israel-HAMAS conflict may motivate other violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators with similar grievances to conduct violence against Jewish and Israeli communities and their supporters,' the FBI and DHS warned in their public service announcement. 'Foreign terrorist organizations also may try to exploit narratives related to the conflict to inspire attacks in the United States,' the announcement said. The agencies urged the public to remain vigilant and report any threats of violence or suspicious activity to law enforcement. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett and interfaith leaders gathered Wednesday to denounce the attack and call for unity, according to a news release. 'Violence in any form has no place in Colorado, and we know that to move forward we must join together in our common humanity to ensure peace in our communities, take care of one another, and emerge stronger,' Polis said in a statement. CNN's Danya Gainor, Cindy Von Quednow, Evan Perez, Alisha Ebrahimji and Jeremy Harlan contributed to this report.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Colorado antisemitic attack suspect to appear in federal court on Friday amid widespread fear over antisemitic attacks
Crime The Middle EastFacebookTweetLink Follow The Egyptian man accused of carrying out an antisemitic attack in Boulder, Colorado, is set to appear in federal court on Friday – a day after he was charged with 28 counts of attempted murder in connection to a firebombing that has sparked widespread fear across the Jewish community. Mohamed Soliman, 45, allegedly used a makeshift flamethrower and Molotov cocktails to set people on fire during a downtown event held in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza. The attack occurred on the eve of Shavuot, a Jewish holiday, and less than two weeks after a separate antisemitic attack in Washington, DC, where two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot dead. In a Public Service Announcement Thursday, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security highlighted 'potential public safety concerns related to ongoing threats to Jewish and Israeli communities.' Soliman faces a federal hate crime charge in connection with the Boulder attack, an affidavit shows. He faces life in prison if convicted of the federal charge, acting United States Attorney for the District of Colorado J. Bishop Grewell said Monday. On Thursday, Soliman appeared in court from a room in the Boulder County Jail before Colorado District Judge Nancy Salomone to face state charges. Wearing an orange zip-up jacket, Soliman nodded in response to the judge's questions. He faces 118 counts, including 28 counts of first-degree attempted murder, according to court documents filed in the Boulder District Court. Soliman also faces counts of felony assault, incendiary device charges, along with one count of animal cruelty, the document shows. CNN has reached out to his attorney for comment. A total of 62 of those counts relate to the victims. If convicted, Soliman could face up to 48 years in prison for each victim, said Michael Dougherty, the district attorney for Colorado's 20th Judicial District. The attack injured at least 15 people – including a Holocaust survivor – as well as a dog. The victims included eight women and seven men between the ages of 25 and 88, according to the FBI, with several suffering severe burns. Three victims remained hospitalized as of Thursday, Dougherty said. He is due in court for a preliminary hearing on his state charges on July 15. During the attack, Soliman reportedly yelled 'Free Palestine,' according to the FBI and later told authorities that 'he wanted to kill all Zionist people and wished they were all dead,' an affidavit said. Authorities are investigating whether Soliman has any underlying mental health issues, a source familiar with the investigation previously told CNN. Investigators are also examining a notebook left behind by Soliman, which includes a manifesto written in English with some lines in Arabic, according to a law enforcement source. Police recovered the notebook after Soliman directed them to its location. Investigators are also reviewing videos Soliman recorded on his phone, featuring him speaking in both English and Arabic, the source said. One such video, which has surfaced on social media, appears to show Soliman speaking in Arabic while driving. CNN has not independently confirmed the video's authenticity. The attack is one of multiple recent incidents that has increased fear among the Jewish community in the US. 'The ongoing Israel-HAMAS conflict may motivate other violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators with similar grievances to conduct violence against Jewish and Israeli communities and their supporters,' the FBI and DHS warned in their public service announcement. 'Foreign terrorist organizations also may try to exploit narratives related to the conflict to inspire attacks in the United States,' the announcement said. The agencies urged the public to remain vigilant and report any threats of violence or suspicious activity to law enforcement. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett and interfaith leaders gathered Wednesday to denounce the attack and call for unity, according to a news release. 'Violence in any form has no place in Colorado, and we know that to move forward we must join together in our common humanity to ensure peace in our communities, take care of one another, and emerge stronger,' Polis said in a statement.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
‘Something broke inside of' father accused of killing 3 daughters: Mom's attorney
Retired FBI Special Agent Bobby Chacon joins NewsNation as the search continues for Travis Decker, the only suspect in the murders of his three young daughters in Washington. The girls were reportedly found asphyxiated with plastic bags still on their heads and zip-ties on their wrists. Decker, a former Army Ranger with survival training and PTSD, vanished after a custodial visit. Their mother, Whitney, says the system failed them — police issued a missing persons alert instead of an Amber Alert. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
