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Artificial Intelligence as Your Digital Watchdog: Protecting You from Fraud and Deception

Writer's picture: Lori RyanLori Ryan
Feb 254 min read

Updated: 5 days ago

How AI Can Help You Spot Fraud, Avoid Deception, and Keep Your Data Secure.


Too Good to be True!

We’ve all received one of those suspicious pieces of mail: a flashy envelope proclaiming, “Congratulations! We want to offer you a free vacation!” It’s tempting to believe, especially when you're dreaming of escaping freezing temperatures. But deep down, we know better.

A senior citizen reviewing a suspicious email with an AI assistant highlighting warning signs created by DALL*E
A senior citizen reviewing a suspicious email with an AI assistant highlighting warning signs created by DALL*E

This got me thinking: could AI help us identify scams more easily? I decided to test it out by analyzing a recent travel invitation that came in the mail. I had a little conversation with ChatGPT about it.

Lori records a video asking ChatGPT about a letter that seems misleading!

The process was fascinating, and it led to a bigger realization: AI could serve as a scam detector for people who may not have the tech-savviness to recognize fraud immediately, especially seniors or individuals living alone.

This looks like spam to me ChatGPT said: Yes, this looks like a classic scam or misleading marketing mail. A few red flags: "Free" Airline Tickets & Hotel Stay – These types of offers usually require attending a high-pressure sales presentation (often for timeshares or expensive vacation clubs). Fake Check Appearance – The "check" for $1,089 is designed to grab attention but is not an actual check you can cash. It’s a marketing tactic to make you call. Urgency & Scarcity Tactics – Phrases like “First 50 callers” and “If we do not hear from you within 7 days…” are designed to pressure you into acting quickly. Fine Print & No Clear Sponsor – Legitimate promotions will clearly state the company behind them, and this one is vague. Random Hilton Garden Inn Logo – Just because it has a well-known brand logo doesn’t mean the brand is actually involved. If you received this via mail, it’s best to ignore and discard it. If you’re curious, you can call Hilton Garden Inn directly to verify, but most likely, this is an attempt to lure you into a sales pitch.
When I commented to ChatGPT, "This looks like spam to me." The answer was yes.
And this. No idea who it’s from ChatGPT said: This also looks like part of the same scam or misleading marketing mail. The envelope design is meant to look official and urgent, using phrases like: "Personal and Confidential" – This is a tactic to make it seem important. "Reservations" and "Immediate Response Requested" – This creates urgency, pressuring you to act fast. "Mailed from ZIP Code 61539" – This ZIP code corresponds to a mail processing facility, often used for bulk mail or marketing campaigns. Pre-Sorted US Postage Paid – A common indicator of mass marketing mail rather than personal or official correspondence. Since it doesn't clearly identify the sender, it's likely a deceptive attempt to get you to call for a sales pitch (possibly for timeshares, vacation clubs, or another high-pressure offer). If it was truly a legitimate company or reward, they would clearly state their name and contact details. It's best to discard it. If you’re curious, you can try Googling the phone number provided in the letter, but typically, these are best ignored.
When I asked ChatGPT about the postage and who the letter was from!

The Growing Challenge of Sophisticated Scams

Scams are becoming more advanced, thanks in part to AI itself. From deepfake videos to AI-generated phishing emails, fraudulent tactics are getting harder to spot. This makes it more important than ever to develop AI-driven tools that can help combat deception.


Why this matters:

  • AI-generated scams are on the rise – Fraudsters are using AI to create ultra-realistic scams, making them more convincing than ever.

  • Not everyone has a tech-savvy friend or family member to ask – Many people, especially older adults, may lack immediate access to help when they receive suspicious messages.

  • AI can provide confidence in decision-making – Instead of second-guessing, individuals can use AI tools to verify legitimacy.

  • Scammers thrive on urgency – Many scams create a sense of pressure (“Act now or lose this opportunity!”). AI could act as a rational filter to help people pause before acting.


How an AI Scam Detector Could Work

Imagine a simple, user-friendly AI tool designed to analyze potential scams. It could work as a chatbot, a mobile app, or even a voice-activated service that helps users evaluate suspicious messages through a series of guided questions:

  1. Who is the sender? – Is it a government agency, a financial institution, or an unknown source?

  2. What does the postage look like? – Is it bulk mail or handwritten?

  3. Does the email address look suspicious? – Are there misspellings or random characters?

  4. What does the message say? – Does it use urgency, free gift offers, or ask for personal details?

  5. Does it request payment, banking details, or login credentials? – A huge red flag.

  6. Does it seem too good to be true? – Because it probably is!


The AI could then compare the input to known scam patterns, cross-check databases, and provide a clear verdict: Likely Scam, Possibly Legitimate, or Needs Further Review.

And I have to say ChatGPT also did really well when I had an urgent message displayed on my Mac and I wasn't sure what to make of it. You can watch the video here with the responses.

Addressing Potential Concerns

Of course, not everyone may be on board with an AI scam detector. Here are a few common concerns:

🤖 Can AI really be trusted for this? – AI is not perfect and could mislabel legitimate messages as scams (or vice versa). But with continuous updates, its accuracy would improve.

🤔 Isn’t this just common sense? – While some scams are obvious, many are well-crafted. Plus, not everyone has the experience to recognize them.

🔐 What about privacy concerns? – Any AI tool would need strict data protection policies to ensure that users' personal information is not misused. And there would need to be reminders telling people to be careful what they show the tool for analysis.


Conclusion: AI for Good

AI is already a powerful ally in the fight against fraud. Think about fraud alerts on your credit cards.

If you're interested in using AI to help detect spam or scam messages today, you can:

  • Use ChatGPT to analyze suspicious messages (just be careful not to share personal information)

  • Try built-in scam detection tools in email services like Gmail

  • Look for browser extensions that help identify suspicious websites.

  • Share this article with someone who might benefit from these tips


While we may never eliminate scams entirely, an AI scam detector could provide an extra layer of security, especially for those most vulnerable.

So, what do you think? Would you use an AI tool like ChatGPT, or do you have other ideas for fighting scams? Let’s start the conversation. 💬


Essential Resources to Report and Avoid Fraud

  1. FTC Report Fraud – The easiest and most comprehensive place to report scams and fraud in the U.S.

  2. FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) – If the scam involves online fraud, phishing, or cybercrime, this is the place to report it.

  3. Better Business Bureau (BBB) Scam Tracker – Great for checking and reporting scams happening in your area.




 
 
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