In 2025, scammers exploit artificial intelligence, cryptocurrencies, and stolen personal data to deceive people with unprecedented sophistication. Their success hinges on exploiting three timeless human vulnerabilities: duty, fear, and hope.
- Duty: victims obey fake instructions from “bosses” or “co-workers.”
- Fear: victims believe a loved one is in danger.
- Hope: victims fall for promises of quick profits or dream jobs.
AI-Powered Scams and Deepfakes
Artificial intelligence is no longer a niche tool — it’s cheap, accessible, and powerful. While businesses deploy AI for customer service and advertising, criminals use it to mimic voices and faces with alarming realism.
- Impersonation attacks: Fraudsters generate synthetic audio or video of CEOs, managers, or relatives in distress. Victims are tricked into wiring money or sharing sensitive information.
- In 2024 alone, the U.S. recorded over 105,000 deepfake attacks, costing more than $200 million in Q1 2025.
- Fake emergency scams: Elderly victims are targeted by calls or texts from “grandchildren” in trouble, a tactic highlighted by the Federal Trade Commission.
Cryptocurrency Scams
Crypto remains the “Wild West” of finance — volatile, largely unregulated, and ripe for fraud.
- Pump-and-dump schemes: Scammers hype up a coin on social media, drive up its price, then sell, leaving late investors with worthless tokens.
- Pig butchering scams: A mix of romance fraud and crypto cons. Criminals spend weeks building trust before coaxing victims into fake investment platforms, eventually disappearing with their money.
- Impersonation & ATM fraud: Victims are told to deposit cash into Bitcoin ATMs to pay fictitious fines or fees.
Old Scams, New Tricks
Classic schemes haven’t disappeared — they’ve evolved.
- Phishing & smishing: AI-written messages now mimic corporate grammar and tone so convincingly that even seasoned professionals are fooled.
- Tech support scams: Victims are duped by fake virus alerts or cold calls. Once they grant remote access, scammers install malware, steal files, and demand ransom.
- Fake websites: Fraudulent sites mimic universities or ticket sellers. One “Southeastern Michigan University” site scammed applicants until Eastern Michigan University intervened.
- Job scams: With remote work on the rise, fake recruiters promise high pay and flexible hours but steal personal data or charge bogus fees.
How to Protect Yourself
- Think before you click: Never open links or attachments from unknown sources. Enter personal information only on verified sites.
- Stay official: Use apps or websites directly from legitimate companies. Avoid third-party links.
- Enable two-factor authentication: A strong safeguard against stolen passwords.
- Update software: Turn on automatic updates to close security loopholes.
- Recognize red flags: No real business asks for sensitive data or payment via gift cards, crypto ATMs, or wire transfers.
The Bottom Line
Technology has supercharged age-old fraud. AI makes deception lifelike, crypto enables anonymous theft, and the gig economy creates new entry points for scams. Yet one constant remains: criminals prey on trust, urgency, and ignorance.
Awareness and skepticism are still your best defenses.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
