May 5/8/25 Tech Tips

What are the most prevalent phishing scams in 2025?

AI Scams

Due to the rise of AI in the past couple of years, many scammers have been using AI to make their scams look more credible. Phishers and smishers (text message scamers) will use AI to write text that sounds more natural and convincing. They will also create AI-generated images to make their "product" more authentic-looking. Phishers have also used AI to either create or alter voices which sound human. Some have even mastered accents. With the ability to make text, images, and voices more believable, phishing scams are becoming all too easy to fall into.

Imposter Scam

Another scam that has been on the rise is imposter scams. This is when someone pretends to be a family, friend, celebrity, businessperson, delivery company, or government official. These are probably one of the most prevalent scams, but also the one people fall for the most. They are often spotted sporting some kind of emergency or urgent request. They will have fake links to websites or delivery tracking services. It has been reported that 20% of people targeted by these scams have lost money. Particularly in the first few months of 2024, approximately $1,400 was lost just to government imposter scams. A couple of good tips to avoid getting scammed by imposter scams is to verify who you're talking to. Never give up personal information or be pressured into something. Be careful who you communicate with.

Phone Related Scams

Scammers can get you in numerous ways via your phone. Robocalls have become more and more human-like due to AI. They will pressure you from an expired car warranty to winning a dream vacation. They may issue a threat or need something urgently from you. Apps infected with malware to steal your information have also been reported recently. Some apps are clones of other apps where you would put your banking information in to purchase something. On the rise are reports of malware that could infect your phone and trick you into calling the scammer when you try to call your bank. QR codes have been gaining popularity as an easy, touch-free way to open menus or pay tabs. But scammers are placing these codes in inconspicuous areas to get you to make a small purchase. Some are going as far as putting them on fake government letters. Scammers also sometimes use OTP bots to deceive people into revealing authentication codes. When the scammer attempts to log in, the bank sends a one-time code to your device. Simultaneously, the bot mimics the company, reaching out via call, text, or email to request the code. The well-timed approach may seem credible, but if you provide the code, the bot immediately forwards it to the scammer, granting them access to your account.

Be sure to look out for any suspicious emails, links, texts, calls, or codes. When in doubt, don't click the link or give away information.

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