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Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology have certainly made our lives easier. But in the wrong hands, AI can become a deadly weapon for stealing money from bank accounts. Whereas digital scams used to look amateurish—with typos or repetitive tactics—the situation is now completely different.

Modern digital scams are increasingly sophisticated and no longer look “cheap.” Thanks to AI, scammers can now create voice clones, hyper-realistic deepfake videos, and even fake transfer receipts that are incredibly precise and nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. The growth rate of this crime is no joke. In Indonesia alone, AI-based fraud cases in the fintech sector skyrocketed by 1,550% between 2022 and 2023, with losses exceeding Rp6 trillion!

According to OJK records, there were approximately 274,000 reports of financial fraud filed, with total losses for the Indonesian public reaching over Rp6 trillion! A figure that is both staggering and terrifying.

Whereas in the past hackers had to go to great lengths to crack passwords or take over your social media accounts, the method today is far simpler—yet just as dangerous. Scammers simply need to obtain photos, video clips, or voice recordings of you that are circulating on social media. Using this free material, AI will process it to create a fake identity. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly receive a “video” or “call” from someone close to you asking for emergency money—it’s actually AI impersonating them.

You Could Be the Target! Here’s How to Reduce the Risk of Being Scammed

Don’t wait until your bank account is drained to regret it. You can minimize the risk of falling victim to AI-based scams by implementing the following protective measures:

1. Don’t Answer Calls Blindly: Avoid answering calls from unfamiliar or unknown numbers. If you do answer and the voice sounds suspicious, hang up immediately.
2. Don’t Click Random Links: Ignore unfamiliar links sent via WhatsApp chat, SMS, or email, especially those claiming to be from package delivery services or government agencies.
3. Always Verify Before Transferring: If a friend or family member asks for emergency money via chat or phone, don’t transfer it right away! Contact them through another channel to confirm it’s legitimate.
4. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your social media accounts, email, and financial apps.
5. Stop Oversharing! Limit sharing photos, voice recordings, or videos that are too detailed on social media. This data can be misused by AI to clone your identity.
6. Always Be Wary of Panic-Inducing Messages: Scammers always use fear-based tactics. If a message is too sudden, threatening, or panic-inducing, it’s a red flag that you’re being scammed.

Let’s become more digitally savvy and start protecting ourselves and our families from the dangers of AI-based scams!

Source: tentengo.id