3 Ways Scammers are using AI to Con You - And How to Protect Yourself

Cybercriminals have always been sneaky. But now, with AI in their toolkits, they’ve gone from pickpockets to full-blown illusionists.

At DaZZee, we’ve seen firsthand how scammers are using artificial intelligence to trick people, especially small businesses, schools, and local governments. And the scams? They’re more believable than ever.

Here’s a look at three common AI-powered cons... and what you can do to stay safe.

1. Voice Cloning: “Hi, It’s Me, Your Boss…”

Let’s say it’s a normal Tuesday morning. You get a phone call from your manager. You recognize their voice, tone, even their usual sarcasm.

“Hey, I need you to send over that vendor payment again, same account as last time.”

It sounds just like them. But it’s not.

Scammers can now use AI to clone voices using just a short audio clip, like a voicemail or a video posted online. Once they have it, they can trick employees into transferring money or handing over sensitive data.

How to stay safe:

Always verify financial requests through a second channel. If your “boss” texts you about a transfer, call them to double-check. At DaZZee, we teach teams to slow down, verify, and never assume a familiar voice is legit.

2. Smarter Phishing Emails: AI-Generated and Practically Perfect

Remember when scam emails were full of typos and weird formatting? Those were the good ol’ days. Today’s phishing emails can be polished, personalized, and eerily convincing.

Why? Because scammers are using AI to write them.

They scrape data from your company’s website, LinkedIn, or even old email threads, then use AI to create messages that look like they're from real vendors, coworkers, or partners.

How to stay safe:

We recommend Microsoft 365 security hardening and regular phishing simulations to help train your team to spot the fakes. And if you're working with DaZZee’s Fortify IT services, you’re already getting dark web monitoring and monthly security training built in.

3. Deepfake Videos: Seeing Isn’t Believing

Let’s say you’re scrolling through social media and see your city mayor or your CEO in a video endorsing a new crypto platform. They even say your company by name.

It looks real, but it’s a deepfake.

AI-generated videos can now recreate facial expressions and voice patterns almost perfectly. These videos can be used to trick people into donating to fake causes, giving away credentials, or clicking links that install malware.

How to stay safe:

Don’t trust everything you see. Stick to official communication channels and encourage your team to report suspicious messages or videos. And yes, Fortify IT covers this too, by securing the systems scammers use to spread these deepfakes in the first place.

Let’s Keep You One Step Ahead

Cybercriminals aren’t playing fair, and with AI in the mix, they don’t have to. But the good news? You don’t have to handle it alone.

DaZZee’s Fortify IT service is built specifically for small businesses and local governments who need enterprise-level cybersecurity without the enterprise-sized headache.

We combine around-the-clock monitoring, phishing defense, Microsoft 365 audits, and employee training to help keep your team secure and confident.

👉 Schedule a free 30-minute consultation and let’s talk about a cybersecurity plan that’s built for the real world, AI tricks and all.