AI accelerates cyber scams affecting 90% of US adults

A new study conducted by Consumer Reports, Aspen Digital, and the Global Cyber Alliance reveals that 9 out of 10 surveyed American adults have encountered a digital scam or cyberattack. Approximately 17% of consumers reported losing money due to digital security breaches.

Experts warn that artificial intelligence is significantly escalating the threat by allowing criminals to process personal data more rapidly and create highly specific, convincing deceptions. This includes the use of AI to mimic human communication and voice patterns.

Security researchers note that even silent phone calls can be used by bad actors to confirm a number is active. When combined with AI, small audio samples collected from brief interactions can be used to create realistic voice imitations for social engineering attacks, such as impersonating family members or colleagues to solicit sensitive information.