The Dark Side of AI: How Scammers Are Exploiting Seniors in a High-Tech Heist

Article is by this top vid by Megyn Kelly on how AI helps scammers 🛑

In a compelling segment on The Megyn Kelly Show (above) , cybersecurity expert Eric O’Neill delves into the alarming ways artificial intelligence is empowering scammers, making cyber threats more sophisticated and cybersecurity defenses increasingly challenging. O’Neill, author of “Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime,” highlights how AI tools are being weaponized to create realistic deepfakes, clone voices, and craft personalized phishing attacks that prey on vulnerable populations. Particularly at risk are senior citizens, who often lack familiarity with digital red flags and may be more trusting of urgent pleas for help. This discussion serves as a stark wake-up call: As AI advances, so does the ingenuity of fraudsters, turning technology meant for progress into a tool for exploitation. With seniors losing billions annually to scams, the integration of AI is amplifying the crisis, enabling cons that are harder to detect and devastating in their impact.AI scams represent a new frontier in fraud, where machines mimic human behavior with eerie accuracy. One of the most insidious methods is voice cloning, where scammers use AI to replicate the voice of a loved one in distress. In the classic “grandparent scam,” fraudsters call seniors pretending to be a grandchild in trouble—perhaps arrested or in an accident—and urgently needing money wired for bail or medical bills.

The other example of this scam, also Google taking scammer money through Turkmenistan. pic.twitter.com/MmPTealVh9

— John “Saskboy” Klein (@JohnKleinRegina) October 2, 2025

These ads, numbering over 150,000, specifically targeted seniors, luring them to phishing sites where personal information is harvested. One fake Trump video, lip-synced to a real speech, promised cash handouts, leading tens of thousands to click and fall victim. Reuters collaborated with Harvard researchers to simulate an AI-powered phishing scam, testing it on senior volunteers—it succeeded alarmingly well, demonstrating how AI crafts personalized lures based on public data. For seniors, who may rely on social media for news, these deepfakes erode trust and lead to financial ruin.AI-driven phishing emails and texts are becoming hyper-personalized, using data scraped from online profiles to reference specific details about a victim’s life. Scammers deploy AI chatbots that engage in real-time conversations, building rapport before striking. Romance scams, a favorite among fraudsters targeting lonely seniors, now feature AI bots that maintain consistent, emotionally manipulative dialogues.

The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation notes that tech scams exploit seniors’ perceived financial stability and trusting nature, often starting with fake tech support calls where AI simulates legitimate company representatives. Investment scams promise high returns on crypto or stocks, using AI-generated testimonials or market predictions to seem credible. A 2025 guide from GOiCON highlights five AI-enhanced scams, including impersonation frauds where deepfakes convince victims to transfer funds. Statistics paint a grim picture. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center reported that Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to cybercrimes in 2023 alone, a figure that’s climbing with AI’s involvement. Phone scams using AI voice cloning are particularly rampant, with experts like Katie Shilton from the University of Maryland noting that these calls steal money by mimicking loved ones in crisis. A PBS special, “Scams, AI & Heartbreak,” explores how digital threats are heartbreaking for older adults, from romance frauds to investment cons.

Here is where the AI describes just how exactly they will scam you out of your crypto

Here is where the AI describes just how exactly they will scam you out of your crypto pic.twitter.com/PLawwkWCHZ

— Ian Carroll (@IanCarrollShow) August 4, 2024

Nonprofits like Mode to Code offer free AI literacy classes for seniors to spot scams. Platforms like Meta claim to invest in defenses, but critics argue it’s insufficient, as scammers evade verification. Government action is needed: Stronger regulations on AI tools and ad platforms could curb misuse. As O’Neill warns on The Megyn Kelly Show, AI is democratizing fraud, allowing even low-skill scammers to execute high-impact cons. For seniors, this means heightened vigilance is essential. Families should discuss scam tactics and monitor accounts. Ultimately, while AI promises innovation, its dark applications underscore the need for ethical development and robust protections. Without them, the most vulnerable—our elders—will continue to bear the brunt of this technological betrayal.

Links

Democrats’ Relentless Assault on Liberty: The Alinsky Playbook to Forge a Marxist America

Netflix’s War on Innocence and Patriotism: How the Streaming Giant is Poisoning Young Minds with Radical Agendas

Hillary’s War on Freedom: The Radical Left’s Queen Clashes with Musk and Trump in Her Endless Assault on American Liberties

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