Emerging Scams: New Fraud Tactics To Watch For
New scams and evolving fraud tactics can be harder to recognize than traditional scams. This section helps explain how emerging scams work, why they are spreading, and the warning signs to watch for. You’ll also find practical guidance on how to protect yourself and what steps to take if you’ve already been affected.
AI and Deepfake Scams
Scams that use artificial intelligence to generate convincing voices, videos, images, or messages that impersonate real people or organizations. These scams are increasingly difficult to detect because the content can look and sound authentic.
Synthetic Identity Scams
Scams where criminals create entirely fake but realistic identities using AI-generated photos, profiles, and personal details. These fabricated personas are used to build trust over time, often before asking for money or sensitive information.
Trust Hijacking Scams
Scams that occur inside newer or trusted-looking interfaces such as in-app chats, customer support tools, QR-based interactions, or embedded widgets. Because the environment feels official, warning signs are easier to miss.
New Interface & Interaction Scams
These scams use calls or texts that impersonate trusted organizations, businesses, or individuals. They rely on urgency, authority, or fear to pressure people into sharing information, verification codes, or sending money.
Infrastructure Manipulation Scams
Scams that work by altering or replacing trusted physical or digital infrastructure rather than directly contacting victims. Examples include tampered QR codes, fake service portals, or modified instructions that quietly redirect people to scam-controlled systems.
Credential-Free Attack Scams
Scams that bypass passwords entirely by tricking victims into approving access requests, login prompts, or security actions. These attacks rely on urgency, confusion, or approval fatigue rather than stolen credentials.