Pause, Verify, Protect: A 3-Step Action Plan to Spot and Prevent AI Scams

Rotary phones to smartphones. Typewriters to laptops. Encyclopedias to the internet. If you’re 65 and up, you’ve witnessed waves of technological change in your lifetime. But none may be as life-changing as artificial intelligence (AI).

Believe it or not, some of those changes are actually positive. In fact, a 2025 University of Michigan poll revealed more than half of older adults have used helpful voice-based AI tools like Alexa and Siri, along with text-based ones like ChatGPT and Gemini. Voice assistant tools have been especially useful for those with dexterity or vision challenges, empowering them to stay informed and socially connected. And AI-powered security systems support a safer life at home, thanks to features like motion alerts and doorbell camera footage.

That’s not to say there aren’t downsides. While AI makes it easier for grandparents to text their grandchildren or keep an eye on package deliveries, it also gives con artists and scammers powerful new tools for obtaining sensitive personal/financial information. According to the 2025 FBI annual report, Americans lost more than $893 million to AI-related scams.

Here are some ways scammers are currently leveraging AI tools to target unsuspecting victims:

How Scammers Use AI

Scammers worldwide are using AI to make fraud more convincing and more personal than ever before. Their tactics include:

• Fake messages: Tools like ChatGPT or Claude help scammers write polished, persuasive emails and text that might appear to be from your bank or insurance company.

• Manipulated images and videos: Relying on AI tools that alter or make new images, they create convincing fake photos and videos — a puppy needing rescue or a child in danger — designed to tug at your emotions and open your wallet.

• Voice impersonation: AI voice-altering technology lets scammers impersonate celebrities or even your own loved ones, making it sound as if your grandson is calling in a panic and needing money, or a celebrity is personally pitching you an investment deal.

All those hard-to-detect emails, phone calls and images are fueling this surge in scams, including healthcare and insurance fraud. “Vishing” (short for “voice fishing”) scams often use AI voice-altering technology to impersonate trusted sources — like the Medicare office, your bank or your insurer — and trick you into sharing sensitive information (like your Medicare, Social Security, insurance or banking details), according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

How to Spot Scams and Protect Yourself

AI makes scams harder to detect, but you can protect yourself with this simple, three-step approach: Pause, Verify, and Protect.

1. Pause

Scammers thrive on urgency. Your bank account will close if you don’t act now. Your grandson is in jail and needs bail money immediately. Your Medicare Advantage plan will be canceled if you don’t share your personal details now.

That sense of urgency is a warning sign that the call, text or email could be a scam. So don’t react, pause. Close the email, ignore the text or hang up the phone.

2. Verify

While pausing, verify whether the claim is true.

• If the caller claims to be from Medicare, dial the official Medicare number, 1-800-MEDICARE, to check.

• If the email claims to be from your bank, don’t reply. Call the number on your statement or visit your local branch instead.

• If it sounds like your grandson on the other end, hang up and call his cell phone directly, or reach out to his parents or another trusted family member.

Pro tip: Before clicking on any link or responding to an email, take a close look at the sender’s email address. Scammers often make small tweaks to real addresses in order to make theirs look legit: for example, swapping “ABCBank” for “ABCDBanc.” It’s easy to miss these minor adjustments if you’re not looking closely.

3. Protect

Protect your personal information by never sharing it with individuals or entities you haven’t verified, especially if they sent an unexpected email, text or call. Remember: No legitimate bank, government agency or insurance company will ever rush you into sharing personal information. Real institutions always give you time to pause and verify.

If you think you or your loved one has been a victim of an AI-related or other type of financial scam, don’t feel ashamed — take action! Contact the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 833–FRAUD–11.

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We know that understanding how to stay safe in today’s tech dominated world can be overwhelming. But some tech advances do make life easier, especially when it comes to doctor appointments! Discover the ways ArchWell Health is using services like virtual visits to bring wellness to you in real time.