Quick answers to the most common questions we get about protecting yourself from AI scams.
Spotting Scams
How do I know if a phone call is AI voice cloning?
Listen for unnatural pauses, odd phrasing, or requests you’d never expect from the real person — especially urgent requests for money or gift cards. The strongest defense is a pre-arranged family code word. Our voice cloning guide covers the full set of red flags.
Can AI really fake a live video call?
Yes, in 2026 deepfake video can be nearly impossible to distinguish in real time. Our deepfake video scam guide walks through the detection techniques and what to ask for in a video call.
What’s the most common AI scam right now?
Voice cloning impersonation, AI phishing emails, and romance fraud using AI personas are the fastest-growing. Read our AI romance scam red flags and phishing guide.
Protecting Yourself
Should I freeze my credit?
Yes, for most people it’s a free, effective way to stop AI identity theft before it starts. Our step-by-step freeze guide shows exactly how.
How do I protect my elderly parents?
Set up a family code word, warn them about grandparent scam voice clones, and help them enable two-factor authentication. Our elderly protection guide has a full checklist.
Reporting
Where do I report an AI scam?
The FTC (ftc.gov) and FBI IC3 (ic3.gov) are the primary channels, plus your bank and the platform involved. Our step-by-step reporting guide walks you through preserving evidence and filing correctly.
Do affiliate links affect your recommendations?
No. We only recommend free, authoritative resources like the FTC and CISA. See our affiliate disclosure page.