How can ordinary people avoid these sophisticated scams? There are no easy answers, but Elliot Greenblot explains there are some key actions you can take.
Welcome to the age of artificial intelligence and social engineering! Sophisticated criminals are harnessing computer power to exploit human weaknesses. Let's start with some basic terminology.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a system in which a computer has access to a variety of information to predetermine or predict an outcome. AI can be good or bad depending on what it is being used for.
Social engineering is the manipulation of people into sharing information or behaving outside of their normal behavior. It can be seen as the application of psychology to convince rational individuals to hand over personal information or money.
Social engineering is the basis of marketing and advertising, but it is also the foundation of fraud and fraudulent activities.
We’re all familiar with the numerous phone calls, text messages, and emails we receive every day that appear to be from government agencies, businesses, celebrities, and even friends and family. These are commonly referred to as “fakes,” and criminals pretend to be someone else, such as a government agency, a corporate agent, or a trusted friend.
These “fakes” range from crude, poorly worded and misspelled messages to highly sophisticated campaigns using editing tools and graphics software. Sometimes, even experienced programmers have difficulty distinguishing the “fakes” from the real messages.
But things have changed: AI, social engineering, and knowledge of human psychology have put the average person at a huge disadvantage in this battle.
These efforts are known as “deepfakes,” a form of synthetic media that digitally manipulates the likeness of one person to resemble another. Deepfakes use photos, graphics and audio to recreate images of other people that are compromising, embarrassing or simply fraudulent.
Currently, many of these efforts focus on easily recognizable figures, such as celebrities, entertainers, and politicians. Deepfakes are often used to sell products in the names of well-known figures. For example, some deepfakes attempt to take advantage of entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Musk's reputation as an innovator has allowed criminals to promote devices such as the Elon Musk WattSaver, a Musk innovation they claim can save homeowners up to 90 percent on their energy bills. Ads promoting the device feature doctored and original photos of Musk (the use of tineye.com software made it possible to identify which photos were real).
Musk has denied any connection to these devices, and there are no devices on the market that can cut utility bills by 90 percent.
This particular scam works because it has the plausibility of being something that a creative innovator with a track record of success could pull off.
How can ordinary people avoid these sophisticated scams? There are no easy answers, but there are some key actions to adopt.
• Don’t let celebrity status be the main influencing factor in your decision making.
• Apply common sense and logic to your actions. Is there any logic to getting a device for under $100 that can cut your electricity bill by 90 percent?
• Research before you do anything, whether the product is expensive or not. Don’t just take the promoter’s word for it (even if it’s Elon Musk).
• Use well-known, reputable sources like the Better Business Bureau, Consumer Reports, AARP, etc. Don’t trust product reviews found on social media or in product advertisements.
If you fall victim to a scam, whether it's a simple fake or a deepfake, please report it.
If you've been the victim of a scam, there's no shame in contacting the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov or (877) 382-4357, or the Bureau of Consumer Protection at mass.gov/ago/consumer-resources in Massachusetts or ago.vermont.gov/cap in Vermont.
If you have questions or comments, please email egreenblott@aarp.org.
Elliot Greenblot is a retired educator and coordinator for the AARP Vermont Scam Watch Network. He is the host of the cable TV show “Mr. Scammer” on GNAT-TV in Sunderland, Vermont, at gnat-tv.org.
