AI Chatbots Make Scam Emails More Convincing: Experts Warn of New Fraud Tactics

As artificial intelligence continues to advance, cybercriminals are harnessing its capabilities to craft more convincing scam emails, posing new challenges for individuals and businesses alike. According to the FBI, scammers made off with over $16 billion last year, leveraging AI-generated messages to increase their success.

Mike Britton, Chief Information Officer of Abnormal AI, says AI chatbots like ChatGPT allow scammers to replicate trusted writing styles and eliminate the telltale signs of phishing attempts, such as poor grammar and awkward phrasing. “If I have a few samples of your writing or email, I can mimic your style using a chat GPT or any other AI chatbot,” Britton explained. “It’s fairly trivial to understand what tools and technologies your organization uses, whether you're a Zoom shop or you use Microsoft, and I can craft third-party messages attacking you.”

Scammers often pose as familiar brands or internal departments, sending what appear to be legitimate requests, like software updates or urgent actions from a company’s IT team. These emails can be especially deceptive because they play on the recipient’s sense of urgency.

“The attackers are always working off a sense of urgency,” Britton said. “If I get an email and it’s my CEO asking for urgent help on getting gift cards, stepping away and giving my brain a chance to reengage is crucial.”

Experts recommend a cautious approach to suspicious emails:

• Take your time: Avoid reacting immediately to urgent messages, especially those requesting money or personal information.

• Increase training: Personalized, updated cybersecurity training at work can help employees recognize these scams.

• Verify the source: Contact the sender through an official channel, rather than replying directly to a suspicious email.

While AI technology offers innovative possibilities, Britton cautions that scammers are equally motivated to exploit it for fraudulent purposes. “It’s important to remember that when you see all the cool things technology and AI can do, attackers are also looking at how they can use it to scam.”

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