88 - Cyberthieves Weaponize AI to Perfect Online Scams

June 12, 2025

88 – Cyberthieves Weaponize AI to Perfect Online Scams

Host: Herb Weisbaum /

Guest(s): Ben Winters - Director of AI and Privacy at Consumer Federation of America; Kolina Koltai - Senior Researcher at Bellingcat

Criminals in the U.S. and around the globe are weaponizing artificial intelligence to create scams that are more convincing and more harmful than ever. As AI technology advances, it’s becoming difficult or nearly impossible for the average consumer to tell what’s real from what’s fake.

AI is being used to create bogus celebrity endorsements, fake images, and even write books by non-existent authors. The technology is so easy to use that scammers can pose as someone else and have video conversations with their targets.

In this episode, we’ll explain how fraudsters are using AI to supercharge their deceptions and share tips on how you can protect yourself.

Additional Resources:

⁠Scamplified: How Unregulated AI Continues to Help Facilitate the Rise in Scams⁠

⁠Don’t Get Scammed! Tips For Spotting AI-Generated Fake Products Online⁠

More from Checkbook:

⁠Identity Theft and Fraud: How to Protect Yourself ⁠

⁠Fraud Alert: Criminals Pitch Bogus Cryptocurrency Investments⁠

⁠Social Media Scams Are Skyrocketing. Here’s How to Protect Yourself⁠⁠

Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

AI, technology

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Host: Herb Weisbaum /

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More Info from U.S. PIRG:

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Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠.

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

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Host: Herb Weisbaum /

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⁠Why It’s Time to Ditch Passwords and Switch to Passkeys⁠

#5: CyberCrime: a Former Cyber Crook Explains How to protect Yourself

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Not a Checkbook member? ⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠.

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

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Read Checkbook’s full report on how to save money while using a phone internationally.

Support our podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consumerpedia/support

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