Smart Aging

AI and healthy living, made simple for 55+

Spotting AI scams: fake voices, fake videos, and what to do

Reviewed by Bill Ebersohl ·

Why this matters now

In 2025, people 60 and older reported $7.7 billion in losses to the FBI, from more than 201,000 complaints. [1] The FBI also got more than 22,000 complaints involving AI that year, with losses over $893 million. [1] These are only the losses people reported. The FTC says “the vast majority of frauds are not reported.” [13]

This is not about anyone being “easy to fool.” A 2022 review found no evidence that older adults fall for online fraud more often than other ages. [12] AI scams are simply getting harder for everyone to spot. In a 2025 AARP survey, 84% of adults 50+ said they’re concerned about scammers using AI to make fake voices. [18]

The fake-voice phone call

It starts with a panicked call. It sounds just like your grandson. He’s in trouble and needs money now.

A scammer needs only a short clip of a family member’s voice, which can come from videos posted online, and a voice-cloning program. [4] In 2025, people reported losing over $5 million to these AI “distress” calls. [1]

Warning signs [5]

What to do

Payment red flags: requests to wire money or pay with cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment apps. [4][5] AARP, citing the FTC, says anyone who asks for payment by gift card is a scammer, and the same goes for crypto kiosks. [8] The FTC agrees: only scammers tell you to buy a gift card and give them the numbers [14], and anyone who tells you to pay with a Bitcoin ATM is a scammer. [15]

Make a family safe word

The FBI says: “Create a secret word or phrase with your family to verify their identity.” [3] Share it only with your inner circle. If a caller doesn’t know it, AARP says “it’s clearly a scam.” [8]

A simple plan:

  1. Pick a word or phrase that isn’t posted anywhere online. (Our suggestion.)
  2. Share it only with close family. [3][8]
  3. Ask for it any time someone calls asking for money.

You can also make it harder to copy your voice or face. Limit photos and videos of yourself online, make social media accounts private, and only accept followers you know. [3]

Fake videos: celebrity investments and online romance

Fake endorsements. Scammers use fake celebrity and influencer endorsements, with doctored video and audio that seems real. [6] AARP describes a surgeon whose face and voice were faked in a Facebook ad for a $50 “miracle” cream. Some of his own patients bought it. [8]

The FBI says criminals also use AI video for investment ads, for live video calls pretending to be bosses or police, and for videos that “prove” an online friend is real. [3] Investment complaints with an AI link topped $632 million in 2025. [1]

What to do [6]

Even in lab tests, people often miss fake videos. [17]

Clues that a video is fake (helpful, but not foolproof): odd hands or feet, strange teeth or eyes, blurry faces, weird shadows, lag, or a voice that doesn’t match the lips. [3] Always check by calling back, too.

Romance scams. The FBI says AI is used to make fake profile photos and messages. [3] The FTC’s rule: “Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you haven’t met in person.” [7] Do a reverse image search of the profile photo, and talk it over with someone you trust. [7]

Fake chatbots, websites, and impostors

The FBI warns that criminals put AI chatbots on fake websites to get you to click harmful links. They also use AI to make fake websites, IDs, and badges. [3]

AARP reports a job scam that used a chatbot “interview” on WhatsApp, then an AI phone voice, then a video call. The target thought they were after his bank information. [8]

AI also fixes the spelling and grammar mistakes that used to give scams away. [3][8]

Watch out for ads for AI tools, too. The FTC warns that scammers run fake ads for AI tools and other software that lead to copycat sites and download harmful software. [16]

What to do

Your 5-step plan if you’ve been targeted

  1. Stop. Cut off contact with the scammer. Don’t keep talking to them or confront them. [10]
  2. Check. Call the real person or company on a number you know. [4][5]
  3. Call your bank and card company first. AARP says these “should be your first two calls.” Ask about reversing the charges. Also contact any wire service or gift card company you used. [10]
  4. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general [5], to the FBI at ic3.gov [3][10], and to local police. [8][10] For the FBI report, gather names, phone numbers, payment details, and how contact started. [2]
  5. Get help. Talk to someone you trust. [10] Change your passwords, keep records, and watch your accounts. [10] And don’t blame yourself: “scams are crimes.” [10]

Numbers to keep handy

This is general information, not legal or financial advice.

Sources

  1. FBI IC3, 2025 Internet Crime Report (AI section pp. 39–43; Elder Fraud pp. 44–45). https://www.ic3.gov/annualreport/reports/2025_ic3report.pdf
  2. FBI IC3, “Elder Fraud” brochure (2025 data). https://www.ic3.gov/Outreach/Brochures/Elder_Fraud_Tri-fold.pdf
  3. FBI IC3, PSA I-120324-PSA, “Criminals Use Generative Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Financial Fraud” (Dec 3, 2024). https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA241203
  4. FTC, “Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes” (Mar 20, 2023). https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/03/scammers-use-ai-enhance-their-family-emergency-schemes
  5. FTC, “Scammers Use Fake Emergencies To Steal Your Money.” https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/scammers-use-fake-emergencies-steal-your-money
  6. FTC, “Did a celebrity really endorse THAT? Maybe not” (Apr 24, 2024). https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/04/did-celebrity-really-endorse-maybe-not
  7. FTC, “What To Know About Romance Scams.” https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-know-about-romance-scams
  8. AARP, “AI Makes It Next to Impossible to Detect Scams. Now What?” (Mar 19, 2026). https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/detecting-ai-fraud/
  9. AARP, “AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.” https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/helpline/
  10. AARP, “What to Do After You’ve Experienced a Scam” (updated Jun 4, 2025). https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/what-to-do-after-scam/
  11. Mai KT, et al. Warning: Humans cannot reliably detect speech deepfakes. PLoS One. 2023;18(8):e0285333. PMID 37531336. DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0285333.
  12. Shang Y, et al. The psychology of the internet fraud victimization of older adults: A systematic review. Front Psychol. 2022;13:912242. PMID 36132192. DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.912242.
  13. FTC, “FTC Issues Annual Report to Congress on Agency’s Actions to Protect Older Adults” (Oct 18, 2024). https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/10/ftc-issues-annual-report-congress-agencys-actions-protect-older-adults
  14. FTC, “Avoiding and Reporting Gift Card Scams.” https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams
  15. FTC, “Scammers use Bitcoin ATMs to steal your money” (Sept 2024). https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/09/scammers-use-bitcoin-atms-steal-your-money
  16. FTC, “Ads for fake AI and other software spread malicious software” (Apr 13, 2023). https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/04/ads-fake-ai-other-software-spread-malicious-software
  17. Groh M, et al. Human detection of political speech deepfakes across transcripts, audio, and video. Nat Commun. 2024. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-51998-z
  18. AARP Research, AI robocalls survey (June 2025). https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/work-finances-retirement/fraud-consumer-protection/ai-robocalls-congressional-legislation/

This is general information, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise, diet, or supplement.