AI Cybersecurity: New Scams & How to Protect Yourself

Dozens of people are falling victim to new fraud opportunities daily, as AI makes scams harder to spot. What's interesting is that phishing messages now have precise links, making them almost impossible to distinguish from real ones. Experts advise pausing for five seconds before clicking any link or providing personal details, because once you do, scammers can take over your phone. AI also allows for easy fake phone calls. A good tip is to ask specific questions, like what kind of phone you have, to verify the caller. A particularly alarming method is silent number porting, where scammers transfer your phone number to a new carrier. Once they have your number, they can access your bank accounts, tax information, and payment apps, essentially stealing your identity. This has even led to vehicle theft, with car ownership being transferred without the owner's knowledge. One solution for vehicle owners is to block ownership transfers by mail on the government portal. Beyond direct attacks, many users unknowingly expose sensitive information to AI tools like ChatGPT. It's crucial to remember that AI is a cloud service, not a private diary, and uploaded information can be stored and retrieved. Therefore, avoid uploading bank or medical documents, or asking questions that could harm your reputation. This matters because understanding these new threats is key to protecting your personal and financial information.