Scams Are Getting Smarter: Watch Out for AI and Deepfakes

Remember the old scam emails?

The ones with bad spelling, weird phrases, and promises from a “Nigerian prince”? They were about as convincing as someone trying to sell you gold bars out of the boot of their car. Easy to laugh at, easy to spot.

Those days are over. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), scammers have just upgraded from cheap Halloween costumes to full-blown Hollywood special effects. And that means the rest of us have to be a bit sharper.

What’s Changed?

Scammers are no longer writing dodgy emails by hand. They’ve got AI doing the hard work. Imagine giving a scammer a magic typewriter that can copy anyone’s handwriting perfectly. That’s what they’ve got now.

Here’s what that means for small businesses:

• Emails that look spot on. Think of it like getting a letter in the mail that has your supplier’s logo, style, and even their tone of voice — only it’s fake.
• Fake websites that look real. It’s like walking into what looks like your local bank branch, but it’s actually a cardboard movie set.
• Voices and faces copied. With just a few seconds of video or audio, AI can clone someone. Imagine answering the phone and hearing your boss’s voice — only it’s not really them.

How the Scams Work

• Phishing emails are the modern version of someone pretending to be the postman and slipping a fake bill into your letterbox.
• Deepfakes are like someone putting on a perfect mask that makes them look and sound exactly like someone you trust.

So, when “your accountant” calls and says, “Pay this invoice right now,” it might not be them — it might be someone in a digital disguise.

What You Can Do

Here’s the good news: you don’t need to be a tech wizard. Think of it like running your shop — a few sensible habits keep out most trouble.

1. Train your team – Teach them the same way you’d teach staff to spot fake $50 notes. Once they know what to look for, they’ll catch the dodgy stuff quicker.
2. Double-check strange requests – If a customer gave you a cheque that looked a bit funny, you’d call the bank before accepting it, right? Do the same with emails or calls that ask for money or private info.
3. Use two-step logins – It’s like putting two locks on your front door. Even if someone steals the first key (your password), they still can’t get in without the second.
4. Limit access – Only give the keys to the safe (financial access, admin rights) to people who actually need them.
5. Use security tools – Think of these as security cameras for your inbox. They can flag emails or messages that don’t quite smell right.

Scammers have moved from clumsy con artists to slick stage magicians. They can make you see and hear things that aren’t real.

But like any good magic trick, once you know what’s going on, it loses its power. Slow down, double-check, and don’t be afraid to say, “Hang on, I’ll call you back to confirm.”

A little caution now could save your business from falling for a very expensive illusion.