Nessel re-issues alert warning consumers about dangers of artificial intelligence

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joined Hank Winchester with WDIV-Detroit to alert consumers that artificial intelligence (AI) is now being used by scammers to make their requests for money and personal information more convincing.

AI is the science that enables machines to respond as humans do. It makes things like text message auto-correct and self-driving cars possible. Recently, it has become powerful enough to be able to convincingly mimic human writing and speech. Unfortunately, scammers have already started using these new capabilities to prey on unsuspecting residents.

In the video with Winchester, Nessel and members of the Consumer Protection Team, use an AI-created voice to call friends and family of the attorney general, as well as staff throughout the department to test out how convincing this technology can be.  

Imposter scams were the most commonly reported scam in 2022. A recent McAfee survey found that seventy-seven percent of scam victims who received calls using AI reported losing money -- almost one-third of those lost more than $1,000.

In an AI imposter scam, a person receives a call from a child or grandchild in trouble. Using AI technology, the scammer can recreate the voice of the caller’s loved one. The voice seems so much like the real thing that when the imposter begs the relative to send money to get them out of trouble, the relative often obliges.

“It was only a matter of time before bad actors corrupted a useful technology like artificial intelligence for their own nefarious purposes,” Nessel said. “Don’t be taken in by scammers using voice cloning deceptions to pull at your heartstrings and steal your money."   

“If you receive a call from someone purporting to know you who asks for money, gift cards or for your banking or credit card numbers, hang up before sharing any of your personal information. You can then call them back using the number saved in your phonebook to find out if it the call was real or a scam. That one additional phone call may save you thousands of dollars.”  

In her department’s Artificial Intelligence and Scams alert, Nessel explains that fraudsters have figured out how to use AI in imposter scams to defraud you out of your money. They use personal information pulled from social media profiles and other online sources to tailor the scam to you.

The Department of Attorney General’s artificial intelligence alert recommends taking the following precautions to protect yourself from AI scams:

• When asked for money, in any form, be wary.

• Never depend on caller ID; phone numbers can be spoofed.

• Hang up and call the person from a number you know is theirs.

Following these simple tips will help you avoid falling for AI scams and be sure that the person on the other end of your phone is who they say they are.

To file a complaint with the Attorney General, or get additional information, contact:

Consumer Protection Team:
P.O. Box 30213
Lansing, MI 48909
517-335-7599
Fax: 517-241-3771
Toll-free: 877-765-8388

Online complaint form at https://secure.ag.state.mi.us/complaints/consumer.aspx