LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is urging residents to be on high alert for fraudsters using artificial intelligence to clone the voices of loved ones.
As part of Money Smart Week, which promotes financial literacy and runs through April 21, Nessel reissued a consumer alert regarding the growing threat of artificial intelligence and deepfake scams.
Fraudsters are increasingly misusing the technology to create highly realistic audio and video deepfakes. According to the attorney general's office, scammers can clone a person’s voice using audio collected from public social media posts or videos.
The bad actors then call victims, spoof the phone number of a relative or friend, and impersonate them in distress to make urgent demands for cash.
“AI scams are incredibly sophisticated,” Nessel said in a news release. “They can trick any of us into handing money over to bad actors. If you receive a call from a loved one and something feels off, trust your instinct. Always verify the situation using a known, trusted number.”
To guard against these sophisticated frauds, Nessel recommends consumers establish a family verification phrase or code word known only to relatives to confirm identities during suspicious calls. She also advises against trusting caller ID, as scammers frequently spoof phone numbers to make their calls appear legitimate.
If a call feels wrong, residents should hang up immediately and call the person back using a known, trusted phone number. Additionally, consumers should beware of unusual payment requests. Scammers often demand money through untraceable or irreversible methods, such as cryptocurrency, gift cards or money transfers.
Other common warning signs include high-pressure tactics demanding immediate action, the use of fear, enticing offers or requests for sensitive personal information.
Those who fall victim to a scam should immediately notify local law enforcement and file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at 877-382-4357. Victims should also report fraudulent charges to their bank, credit card company or payment app right away, and contact the issuer of any gift card or money transfer service that was used.
Throughout Money Smart Week, the Department of Attorney General is sharing alerts on its dedicated consumer protection social media accounts across Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
Consumers who believe they have been targeted by a scam or wish to file a complaint can contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Team toll-free at 877-765-8388 or reach out via fax at 517-241-3771.
