Wyoming Scam Alert: Scammers Using AI To Create Fake Videos

Just because you see your favorite celebrity in an online video urging you to buy a product doesn't mean any of it is real.

In fact, the video, the image of the celebrity, and the product may all be fake, according to the Wyoming chapter of the AARP.

The organization says scammers these days are using the latest artificial intelligence to create fake videos for fake products using fake celebrities. AARP Associate State Director Tom Lacock says similarly scammers are now using AI to clean up some of the grammar mistakes in scam emails. Such mistakes are often the first clue that something isn't legitimate, and correcting those errors could make spotting scams more difficult.

In its December scam warning alert, the organization also advised people to avoid clicking on links in emails or text messages, and likewise to avoid phone numbers included in those messages.

A better approach is to look up contact information using a verified website or phone number. But Lacock says it's important to recognize that even web search results are not guaranteed to be safe.

That's because scammers are using fake websites to mimic legitimate sites, often rising to the top of internet searches. He says that doesn't mean you can't do online searches.  "Always look closely at the top results to make sure that they are what you are looking for before clicking. You may also want to avoid clicking on links that are advertisement or “sponsored.” Not all promoted links are fake, but it’s important to understand that promoted web ads are a tactic of scammers."