AI-powered phone scams impersonating Facebook experts

Scammers are utilizing artificial intelligence with Austrian accents to conduct fraudulent phone calls. The AI, posing as a digital assistant named Elena, claims to represent the Facebook and Instagram business customer service departments, specifically under an entity called SocialNext.

The fraudulent calls target individuals by claiming they have made marketing errors on their social media profiles and offering consultation appointments to fix them. The AI is designed to remain focused on its script and will hang up if interrupted by distracting questions.

Investigators note that the callers use rented VoIP numbers, specifically within the 03221107 block, making it easy for them to rotate digits and evade detection. These calls have been reported to reach individuals who do not operate businesses or maintain a social media presence.