Artificial intelligence is no longer just about helping people write emails or generate images. Investigators say it’s also helping scammers steal money by making fake audio, photos and calls appear frighteningly realistic.
For one thing south florida immigration attorney, That meant discovering that criminals had cloned his voice and identity to target immigrants seeking legal assistance. In metro Atlanta, a Cobb County couple lost nearly $800,000 to a sophisticated cryptocurrency scam.
These incidents are indicative of what federal investigators say is a rapidly growing trend.
According to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report, Americans reported losing nearly $893 million to AI-powered fraud last year, as criminals increasingly use artificial intelligence to impersonate trusted people and manipulate victims.
Overall, the FBI has received more than 1 million Internet crime complaints, with total reported losses exceeding $20 billion.
Data suggests that this technology is making familiar scams even harder to spot, from romance schemes to fake investment opportunities and emergency calls.
State officials say these cases are not isolated.
Sean McCloy, Communications and Outreach Coordinator for the Georgia Department of Justice, told CBS News, “I speak to people all over Georgia in my presentations, and I hear that AI is being used in scams such as grandparent fraud.”
AI grandparent fraud is a type of scam in which scammers use artificial intelligence to imitate the voices of the victim’s grandchildren or other relatives. Using audio samples found online and through social media, criminals make convincing calls claiming that a grandchild is in trouble and in urgent need of money.
The numbers behind the trend
Although AI-related complaints still make up a small portion of all reported internet crimes, their economic impact continues to grow.
Florida:
- 350 AI-related complaints
- Nearly $39.9 million in AI-related losses were reported
Georgia:
- 71 AI-related complaints
- More than $10.4 million in AI-related losses have been reported
The FBI notes that these numbers may underestimate the true extent of the problem because many victims do not report being scammed.
How are fraudsters using AI?
Officials say generative AI is helping criminals make old scams more believable by:
- Duplicate audio from social media videos.
- Spoofing a legitimate phone number.
- Create convincing fake photos.
- Research family and personal relationships to make urgent requests seem authentic.
One of the fastest growing examples is the so-called grandparent fraud. In this scam, criminals use AI-generated voices to imitate a loved one in distress and coerce victims into sending money before confirming the emergency.
The FBI says AI also plays a role in romance and credit fraud, with more than $19 million reported in losses across the U.S. last year. Victims also reported losing more than $5 million to AI-assisted distress scams such as voice cloning schemes.
Banks say criminals are becoming more confident
Financial institutions are also warning customers that the rise of AI is making it increasingly difficult to detect identity theft attempts.
In a statement to CBS News, Trust Bank said fraudsters are using artificial intelligence to create more believable scams built around urgency and impersonation.
The bank urged customers not to respond immediately to phone calls, emails or text messages requesting money or sensitive information, but to pause before responding to unexpected requests, verify communications through trusted channels, and closely monitor account activity.
how to protect yourself
The Georgia Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection notes that AI-generated voices can sound real and recommends families establish a private codeword that can be used to verify the identity of a loved one in an emergency.
The technology behind these scams will likely continue to evolve as AI tools become cheaper and more available, making verification, rather than speed, one of consumers’ strongest defenses, investigators said.
- Urgent requests should be confirmed by contacting the representative directly through a known phone number.
- Don’t send money based solely on phone calls or voicemails.
- If you believe you have been targeted, contact your financial institution immediately.
- Report any suspected fraud to your local law enforcement agency and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- If you suspect identity theft, check and freeze your credit.
The Georgia Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection notes that AI-generated voices can sound real and recommends families establish a private codeword that can be used to verify the identity of a loved one in an emergency.
Officials also recommend:
- Urgent requests should be confirmed by contacting the representative directly through a known phone number.
- Don’t send money based solely on phone calls or voicemails.
- If you believe you have been targeted, contact your financial institution immediately.
- Report any suspected fraud to your local law enforcement agency and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
- If you suspect identity theft, check and freeze your credit.
The technology behind these scams will likely continue to evolve as AI tools become cheaper and more available, making verification, rather than speed, one of consumers’ strongest defenses, investigators said.
