Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now widely adopted and available to anyone with an internet connection. Powerful AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Microsoft Copilot let just about anyone wield some seriously hefty tech.
Scammers are taking advantage of this unbarred access and using it to cook up deceptions that are both harder to spot and easier to scale.
At Advanced Solutions AU, we aim to help you stay protected by showing how scammers weaponize AI to run high-impact fraud campaigns that are harder to detect and easier to scale.
Before we dive into 2025's top 6 AI scams, let’s demonstrate how easy it is to transform a basic scam call into something dangerously convincing — all using free, public AI tools.
Live Demonstration: Enhancing a Callback Scam with AI
Step 1 – The Original Scam Call
Let’s begin with the kind of voicemail scam many people still receive — robotic, emotionless, and full of generic threats:
"Hello. This is an automated message from your bank's fraud department. We have detected suspicious activity on your account. Please call us back immediately at 1-800-***-**67 to verify your account information. Failure to respond may result in account suspension. Thank you."
This version is easy to spot — it sounds like a robot and says nothing specific. But things get dangerous when AI steps in.
Step 2 – Humanize the Script With ChatGPT
We take the same bland message and ask ChatGPT to rewrite it to sound more casual and believable — like a real person with a job and personality is on the other end.
“Hey, this is Michael from the IRS. Uh, I just wanted to give you a quick call because we've noticed a bit of a mismatch between your reported income and the um, information we've received from your employer. Could you give us a call back at your earliest convenience? My direct line is 1-800-***-**67. It's really important we sort this out quickly to avoid any issues. Thanks a lot and uh, yeah — chat soon.”
It adds filler words, natural pauses, and friendly language — suddenly it sounds like a real person who’s just trying to help. That’s the trick.
Step 3 – Run It Through an AI-Powered Text-to-Voice Tool
Now we feed the rewritten message into a free AI voice tool like PlayHT. These tools generate speech using deep learning — they even mimic emotion, tone shifts, and hesitation.
With the voice layer added, this fake message becomes terrifyingly realistic. It sounds like a tired human agent calling from a government department.
Step 4 – The Final Result
In just minutes, a clumsy scam turns into a perfectly convincing voicemail that could trick even cautious, experienced people. No fancy gear. No special knowledge. Just AI.
This is the threat. This is why awareness matters.
1. AI-Powered Romance Scams
Dating and romance scams have become more sophisticated and scalable with the aid of AI. Fraudsters now use generative AI to maintain dozens of emotional conversations at once, easily creating the illusion of genuine relationships.
They generate personalized messages, speak multiple languages fluently, and maintain emotional consistency with the victim — sometimes for weeks or months. This builds deep trust.
They also use deepfake face-swapping tech to appear live on video calls — stealing stock footage or real people’s faces to fool victims.
Scam Objective
The primary goal is emotional and financial exploitation. Once trust is built, scammers begin asking for money, crypto transfers, or use the victim to launder stolen funds — all under the illusion of love.
Case Study: 'Pig Butchering'
The term comes from fattening a pig before slaughter. In this context, scammers slowly build romantic intimacy, then steer the conversation toward investing in fake crypto platforms or financial apps they control.
Victims invest more over time — until the scammer vanishes, and the platform disappears with their savings.
For more, see ABC News: "South-East Asia’s pig butchering scammers are using artificial intelligence technology."
2. Deepfake Scams
Deepfake scams are no longer limited to fake porn or manipulated celebrity clips — scammers now use AI to generate live video of company executives, family members, or government officials to issue false instructions.
They train these models on just a few minutes of online video and voice recordings. The result: realistic video calls that look and sound just like someone you trust.
Scam Objective
The goal is manipulation — getting someone to wire funds, approve fake invoices, or hand over credentials based on a “face-to-face” video request that’s completely fake.
Case Study: $25 Million Stolen via Deepfake Zoom Call
In a real case, a finance clerk in Hong Kong was tricked during a Zoom meeting by what appeared to be multiple senior executives. They were all deepfakes — audio and video trained from public material. The result? Over $25 million was transferred to scammers.
Read the full breakdown on IT Brew: "Scammers used AI deepfakes to steal millions during a fake video call."
3. AI-Powered Social Media Bots
The integration of AI into social media bots has transformed them from basic spam accounts into intelligent, realistic digital actors capable of running entire fraud operations.
These bots now manage profiles that appear legitimate — complete with photos, bios, posting histories, and believable comments. They follow trends, mimic language patterns, and use behavioral data to engage with victims in highly convincing ways.
They comment on your posts, share tailored messages, and slide into your DMs with scams masked as friendly conversation, investment tips, or fake brand partnerships.
Scam Objective
These bots aim to manipulate trust and perception. Their goals may include:
- Phishing personal or financial data
- Driving traffic to malware-infected websites
- Amplifying misinformation for political or financial gain
- Faking public interest to inflate investment scams (see astroturfing)
Example
Thousands of AI bots were used during major crypto pump-and-dump schemes in 2024 to create artificial hype around small-cap tokens. Victims were led to believe a wave of support was rising, only to be left with worthless assets after insiders cashed out.
Resource: Kelly M. Greenhill, “How Misinformation and Disinformation Spread, the Role of AI, and How We Can Guard Against Them.”
4. AI-Generated Phishing Emails
Gone are the days of clunky scam emails filled with bad grammar and broken logic. Thanks to AI, phishing emails today are smart, polished, and often indistinguishable from genuine communication.
Using natural language processing and large datasets, scammers can now generate emails that:
- Use perfect grammar and tone
- Mirror your company’s internal communication style
- Include your real name, job title, and even recent project details
Many of these emails include links to cloned login portals, file-sharing pages, or banking forms that steal your data the moment you enter it.
Scam Objective
Phishing emails aim to:
- Steal login credentials
- Deliver malware attachments
- Convince you to authorize a financial transfer
- Impersonate vendors or clients requesting invoice payments
Key threat: even trained employees are now falling for these, because the messages no longer look suspicious — they look like everyday work emails.
5. AI-Powered Conversational Phishing
This is where things get truly unsettling. Scammers no longer stop at sending a phishing email — now, if you reply, an AI chatbot continues the conversation, mimicking a real person with alarming precision.
These bots can carry on lengthy email threads, sound helpful, answer questions, and slowly guide you into revealing passwords, bank details, or clicking malicious links.
How It Works
AI models are trained on large amounts of business email content and customer service threads. When you respond, the bot tailors follow-ups based on what you say — including real-time context like dates, file references, and tone.
Scam Objective
This technique bypasses traditional email security filters. After gaining your trust with multiple replies, the bot may:
- Send a fake invoice
- Ask for a password reset link
- Convince you to install software “required for compliance”
Victims often realize they were talking to a bot only after the damage is done — and even then, the interaction may feel eerily human.
6. AI-Driven Investment Scams
Investment scams are one of the oldest tricks in the book — but AI has taken them to a new level of believability and scale.
Scammers use AI to launch massive campaigns that simulate real market hype. They use bots to spread rumors, fake testimonials, and coordinated news chatter about “groundbreaking” coins, stocks, or projects.
How It Works
AI creates fake Twitter/X profiles, news-style blog posts, Telegram groups, Reddit threads, and even chatbots posing as “crypto experts.”
As momentum builds, real people start buying in — only to be left holding worthless assets once the scammers cash out and vanish.
Common Tactics
- Astroturfing: Making it seem like thousands support an investment
- AI chat assistants: Promoting scam tokens in trading apps or websites
- Fake influencers: AI-generated personas with deepfake photos and pre-scheduled posts
Example: Pump-and-Dump Scheme
- Select a low-volume coin that’s easy to move.
- Launch an AI-generated media blitz to create buzz.
- Simulate trading activity with bots to drive up value.
- Sell off large holdings while others are still buying in.
- Crash the market — leaving real investors with losses.
For a real-world explainer, see: Investopedia’s “How Does a Pump-and-Dump Scam Work?”
Wrapping Up: AI Makes Scamming Scalable
AI isn’t just for tech companies and coders — it’s now a tool available to anyone with a laptop and internet access, including criminals.
We’ve shown how, in under 10 minutes, a scammer can transform a crude voicemail into a polished, emotionally manipulative, AI-powered voice message that feels real and urgent. We then broke down the most dangerous and widespread AI scams dominating 2025.
What used to take coordinated groups of hackers and months of work can now be launched by a single person with ChatGPT and a browser tab.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Business
- Educate your team — especially finance and admin staff — on modern phishing techniques and social engineering scams.
- Verify requests through independent channels. Never trust a payment request from email or voice alone.
- Use 2FA and password managers — they’re your digital seatbelt.
- Keep systems updated and enable modern spam/phishing filters.
- Pause and question — urgency is the #1 red flag in scam communication.
Advanced Solutions AU offers hands-on security assessments and training for businesses serious about digital protection. If you’re unsure how secure your operation is — let’s talk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Quantum AI scam?
It’s a fake investment scheme. Scammers use buzzwords like “quantum computing” and “AI” to promote a fake trading platform that promises incredible returns — but it’s pure fiction. Always DYOR (Do Your Own Research).
What are AI phone scams?
These use AI-generated voices to impersonate people you trust — a loved one, bank rep, or government agent. They sound shockingly real. Always verify by calling back on a known number.
How can I protect myself against AI scams?
Education is your best weapon. Be skeptical of unsolicited calls, emails, or DMs — especially those that pressure you or ask for urgent actions. Always verify requests via separate, known methods.
Are deepfakes really that hard to spot?
Yes — many are now nearly indistinguishable to the naked eye and ear. If something feels off, trust your gut and don’t act immediately. Confirm identities through another channel.
What is synthetic identity fraud?
It’s the creation of a fake identity using real info (like a stolen SSN) mixed with AI-generated names, photos, and documents. These synthetic identities are used to open bank accounts, apply for credit, or launder money — and they’re hard to detect with traditional tools.