AI Trying to Trick You
Scams, Manipulation, and AI-Powered Tricks
Some people use AI to trick you. They write fake messages. They fake voices. They fake a rush, so you act before you think. These tricks have a name: social engineering. And AI makes them much easier to pull off.
- Scam messages: AI can write very convincing fake emails pretending to be your bank or school
- Voice cloning: AI can clone a voice — a "phone call from mum" might not be mum
- Fake urgency: "You must act NOW!" is almost always a manipulation tactic
- If something feels off, it probably is — slow down and check
- When in doubt, contact the real person or organisation directly (don't use the number in the message)
The Family Code Word Trick
Voice-cloning scams have one simple enemy: a family code word. Sit down together and pick a secret word — something silly nobody would ever guess, like "pickle-rocket." Here's the rule. Does someone call or text asking for money, passwords, or fast help? Ask for the code word. Real mum knows it. A fake voice doesn't. There's one more golden move for any odd message. Close it. Then call the real person on a number you already have — never the one in the message. Scammers can fake a voice. They can't fake your family's inside joke.
- Pick a silly family code word tonight — and keep it off the internet
- Panic + a request for money or secrets = ask for the code word
- Always call back on the number you already have, never the one given
- Try it: play "Spot the Bot" in AI Games (in the catalog) — can you catch the fake?
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