AI Scams by Target Group
Scammers do not choose their targets at random. They study behavior, identify vulnerabilities, and tailor their approach based on who is most likely to respond to a particular type of pressure. Understanding which tactics are directed at your situation makes them far easier to recognize before any damage occurs.
This page covers the most commonly targeted groups, the scam tactics most frequently used against each, real documented examples, and where to get help. For a full overview of scam types, visit the Types of AI Scams page. For guidance on recognizing and responding to scams, visit the How to Spot AI Scams and What to Do if Scammed page.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only. Nothing on this site constitutes legal or financial advice. If you believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact the appropriate authorities listed throughout this page.
How Scammers Identify and Select Targets
Scammers gather information from a wide range of sources. Social media profiles reveal names, relationships, locations, and daily routines. Data breaches make personal information, including email addresses, phone numbers, and financial account details, available for purchase on criminal markets. Public records add details about property ownership, business affiliations, and legal history.
AI tools allow scammers to process this information quickly, identify individuals who match a particular profile, and generate personalized fraudulent communications at scale. A message that references your name, your employer, or a family member feels fundamentally different from a generic fraud attempt, and that sense of familiarity is precisely what makes it more effective. Where a scammer once managed a handful of targeted attempts, AI now applies that same personalization to thousands of people simultaneously.
Senior Citizens and Older Adults
Older adults are among the most frequently targeted and highest-loss victims of fraud in the United States. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center consistently reports that adults over 60 account for the greatest total fraud losses nationally. Several factors drive this: older adults are more likely to have accumulated savings or home equity, more likely to answer calls from unknown numbers, and may be less familiar with rapidly evolving digital tools. Fraud is also significantly underreported in this group, often due to embarrassment or fear of losing independence. Source: FBI Elder Fraud Report 2023 — ic3.gov
Common Scam Types and Examples
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A caller, sometimes using AI-generated voice cloning, impersonates a grandchild or family member claiming to be in an emergency and needing immediate money.
The caller typically requests secrecy and instructs the victim to send payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cash. The urgency and emotional nature of the scenario are deliberately designed to bypass careful judgment.
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Scammers pose as representatives from the Social Security Administration, IRS, or Medicare, claiming that benefits are at risk, a debt is owed, or that the victim is under investigation.
Government agencies do not demand immediate payment and do not request payment by gift card or wire transfer.
If you receive this type of contact, disconnect and call the agency directly using a number from its official website.
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Scammers establish online relationships using fabricated profiles and in some cases AI-generated video or audio. Trust is built over weeks or months before any financial request is made.
Use caution with anyone met only online who eventually requests money, regardless of how credible the relationship appears.
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A pop-up, email, or phone call claims a device or account has been compromised and immediate action is required. The scammer requests remote access or payment for unnecessary services.
Do not grant remote access or make payments based on unexpected contact. Reach out to the company directly through its official website.
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Victims are informed they have won a prize but must first pay fees or taxes to claim it. No legitimate prize requires upfront payment.
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In a widely reported 2023 case, an Arizona woman received a phone call that sounded exactly like her 15-year-old daughter crying and saying she had been in an accident. A man then came on the line claiming to be a doctor and demanding a ransom. Her daughter was safe at home. The call used AI voice cloning to generate a realistic simulation of her daughter's voice from publicly available audio. The mother, DeStefano testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law on June 13, 2023 about the experience.
Warning signs included an urgent call involving a family member's safety, a request for immediate payment to a third party, instructions to keep the situation secret, and pressure to act before verifying with anyone else.
Key lesson: If you receive a call claiming a family member is in danger, hang up and call that person directly at their known number before doing anything else. Establishing a family code word for genuine emergencies is a practical defense against this type of scam.
Sources: CNN — https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/29/us/ai-scam-calls-kidnapping-cec/index.html
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, Written Testimony of Jennifer DeStefano, June 13, 2023 — https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2023-06-13%20PM%20-%20Testimony%20-%20DeStefano.pdf
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The Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General has documented extensive use of AI-generated calls impersonating SSA representatives to target older adults. Victims are told their Social Security number has been suspended and that they must verify their identity or make an immediate payment to restore their benefits. The SSA has stated clearly that it will never suspend a Social Security number, demand immediate payment, or threaten arrest over the phone.
Warning signs: Unsolicited call from a government agency. Threats of suspended benefits or imminent arrest. Request for immediate payment or personal information by phone.
Key lesson: Hang up and call the agency directly using the number on its official website.
Source: Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG)
https://oig.ssa.gov/scam-awareness/scam-alert/
Protecting Older Adults
Family members play an important role. Having direct and non-judgmental conversations about scam tactics is one of the most effective preventive steps. Encourage older relatives to pause and verify before acting on any unexpected communication requesting money or personal information. Legitimate organizations will never demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. If an older relative has been targeted, respond with support rather than blame. Shame and embarrassment frequently prevent victims from reporting what happened.
Job Seekers
The rise of remote work has fundamentally changed how hiring happens, and scammers have adapted accordingly. Entire hiring processes now take place online with no way to physically confirm a company or recruiter is real. Legitimate-looking job postings can be created in minutes, and fake offer letters are easy to produce.
Job seekers are already accustomed to responding to messages from strangers, sharing personal information as part of an application, and acting quickly on opportunities. Scammers exploit all three of these behaviors. The red flags that might prompt caution in any other context can feel entirely routine during a job search.
How to Verify a Job Offer
Search the company name plus "scam" or "reviews”. Confirm the recruiter's email matches the company's official domain. Look the company up on LinkedIn and verify the recruiter's profile. Contact the company directly through its official website to confirm the position exists. Never provide a Social Security number, bank account information, or identification documents until you have independently verified the employer. Legitimate employers do not ask for payment of any kind as a condition of employment.
Common Scam Types
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Fake job listings appear on legitimate platforms including LinkedIn, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter, often describing attractive remote positions with competitive pay. AI allows scammers to produce professional-looking postings and respond to applicants in ways that mimic legitimate recruiter communications. Warning signs include offers that arrive without a prior application, unusually high compensation, recruiters who communicate exclusively through personal messaging apps, and pressure to move quickly without standard verification steps.
Source: FTC guidance on job scams — https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams
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Some fake job scams are designed to collect personal information rather than money.
Applicants may be asked to provide identification documents, Social Security numbers, or bank account details as part of a fake onboarding process. AI enables realistic multi-stage interview simulations, including automated video interviews and written assessments, that closely resemble legitimate employer processes.
By the time sensitive information is requested, the applicant has often invested significant time and developed trust in the process.
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The FBI and FTC have both issued warnings about the growing use of AI in fake recruitment scams. In documented cases, job seekers were contacted by AI-generated recruiters on LinkedIn, advanced through realistic multi-stage interview processes, and ultimately asked to provide sensitive personal information or pay for equipment or training. In some cases the fake employers used real company names and replicated legitimate branding, making the fraud particularly difficult to identify.
Victims whose information was harvested later discovered fraudulent credit accounts opened in their names and false tax returns filed on their behalf.
Warning Signs:
Job offer received without having applied. Unusually high pay for the described role. Communication only through WhatsApp, Telegram, or personal email. Request for a Social Security number or bank details early in the process. No option for a live video call with a human interviewer.
Key Lesson:
Never provide sensitive personal information until you have independently verified the employer. Legitimate employers do not ask for payment as a condition of employment.
Small Business Owners
Small businesses are attractive targets because they handle significant financial transactions, often lack dedicated cybersecurity resources, and rely on trust-based relationships with vendors and clients. Employees may not have formal fraud training and may be more likely to act on instructions from an apparent authority figure without verification. The FBI reported that business email compromise resulted in losses of more than $2.9 billion in 2023.
Common Scam Types and Examples
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A fraudster poses as a known supplier and requests a change to payment details. The communication appears to come from a trusted vendor notifying the business that banking details have changed. Payments made to the fraudulent account are rarely recoverable. Establish a policy of verifying any payment detail change through a separate, verified phone call to a known contact before making any
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A fraudster poses as a senior leader and instructs an employee to take an urgent financial action, typically a wire transfer, gift card purchase, or credential sharing, framed as confidential and time-sensitive.
AI voice cloning and AI-generated email can make these impersonations highly convincing.
Always verify unusual financial instructions through a direct call to the executive at a known number.
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AI-generated phishing emails can impersonate clients, vendors, financial institutions, and government agencies with a level of polish that is difficult to distinguish from legitimate communications.
Common targets include accounts payable staff, HR personnel, and anyone with authority to approve transactions.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency offers free resources for small businesses at https://www.cisa.gov/small-business.
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A finance employee at a UK-based energy company received a phone call that appeared to come from the CEO of their German parent company.
The voice was convincing, the request was clear, and the employee transferred the funds. Investigators reported that criminals used AI voice cloning technology to replicate the executive's voice, likely from publicly available audio such as conference recordings or media interviews.
The money was never recovered.
Source: Wall Street Journal, August 30, 2019 — https://www.wsj.com/articles/fraudsters-use-ai-to-mimic-ceos-voice-in-unusual-cybercrime-case-11567157402
Warning signs: Unexpected request for a financial transfer. Pressure to act quickly. Request to bypass the normal approval process. Transaction framed as confidential to discourage consulting others.
Key lesson: Verify financial requests through a separate channel before acting, even when the voice sounds familiar. Urgency is often the tactic, not the reality.
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A finance employee at UK engineering firm Arup received a suspicious email requesting a large transfer. To verify, they asked to speak with leadership directly. A video call was arranged with familiar faces, matching voices, and normal conversation.
The employee approved the transfers. Every participant on the call was a deepfake, and the transfers totaled $25 million.
This case is significant because it demonstrates that deepfake technology can now be deployed in real-time interactive video calls, not just pre-recorded content.
Warning signs: Unexpected financial instructions during a virtual meeting. Unusual urgency around approvals. Requests that bypassed normal internal authorization.
Key lesson: Video confirmation alone is not sufficient for sensitive financial decisions. Always follow up through a known phone number or require in-person confirmation for large transfers.
Sources: CNN, February 2024 — https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/04/asia/deepfake-cfo-scam-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html · World Economic Forum, February 2025
Students and Young Adults
Students and young adults are increasingly targeted because they are active on social media, often in financial need or seeking income, and may have less experience recognizing fraud. They are also early adopters of AI tools, which means they may interact with AI-generated content without recognizing it as such.
Common Scam Types
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Fake scholarship opportunities require an application fee, personal information, or bank account details. AI enables convincing fake scholarship websites, official-looking award letters, and personalized outreach appearing to come from legitimate educational organizations.
Legitimate scholarships do not require payment to apply or to receive an award.
Verify any opportunity through your school's financial aid office or through https://studentaid.gov.
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Students and recent graduates are frequently targeted by fake job and internship offers that promise professional experience, competitive pay, and flexible arrangements. These offers may appear on legitimate job platforms or arrive through direct outreach on LinkedIn or email. The tactics are similar to those used against job seekers generally, but may be framed specifically around entry-level or student-focused opportunities.
AI enables scammers to produce convincing company profiles, professional recruiter communications, and realistic onboarding materials. Verify any opportunity independently before providing personal information or making any payment.
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Young adults are targeted by romance scams and social engineering on dating apps, social media platforms, and gaming environments. AI-generated personas can maintain engaging, personalized conversations across multiple platforms simultaneously. These interactions may develop over weeks before any request for money or information is made.
Social engineering more broadly involves building trust and rapport to gather information or influence behavior. Students should be aware that not all online relationships are what they appear to be, and that genuine connections do not typically involve requests for money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
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Search for the company independently using its name and the word "scam" or "reviews" to see whether others have reported fraudulent activity. Verify that the recruiter's email address matches the company's official domain. Look up the company on LinkedIn and confirm that the recruiter's profile is consistent with a legitimate employee. Contact the company directly through its official website to confirm the position exists.
Never provide a Social Security number, bank account information, or copies of identification documents until you have independently verified the employer's identity. Legitimate employers do not ask for payment of any kind as a condition of employment.
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Chicago-area man formed a relationship with someone he met online. He saw her on video calls and heard her voice, both enhanced or generated using AI.
After months of communication, he sent money and took on debt a total loss: $70,000.
The victim believed the relationship was genuine due to the realism of AI-generated interactions.
Source:
https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/loving-lie-chicago-area-man-loses-70000-ai-powered-romance-scam
What All Groups Have in Common
Regardless of the target, AI-enhanced scams follow the same core pattern: create urgency, imitate trusted sources, and pressure quick action before there is time to verify. The most effective response is to slow down. Treat any unexpected request involving money, personal information, or immediate action with caution. Pause and verify using a separate, trusted method of contact.
If you believe you have been targeted, see What To Do if Scammed for guidance on reporting the incident, recovering funds when possible, and protecting your identity. Read more about different Types of AI Scams.
General Resources by Target Group
Resources and Reporting
If you believe you have been targeted by fraud, do not wait to report it. Early reporting improves the chances of recovering funds and helps authorities track patterns that protect others.
Resources for Seniors and Older Adults
AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 1-877-908-3360 — https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud
National Elder Fraud Hotline, operated by the U.S. Department of Justice for older adults who have experienced fraud: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) or https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope
Social Security Administration Scam Reporting — https://oig.ssa.gov/report
Medicare Fraud Reporting — https://oig.hhs.gov/fraud/report-fraud
Resources for Job Seekers
FTC Guidance on Job Scams — https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams
Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker — https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker
LinkedIn Safety Center — https://safety.linkedin.com
Identity Theft Resource Center — https://www.idtheftcenter.org
Resources for Small Business Owners
FBI Business Email Compromise Resources — https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise
CISA Small Business Cybersecurity Resources — https://www.cisa.gov/small-business
SBA Cybersecurity Guidance — https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/strengthen-your-cybersecurity
Resources for Students and Families
Federal Student Aid — https://studentaid.gov
FTC Guidance on Scholarship Scams — https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scholarship-and-financial-aid-scams
Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org
ConnectSafely — https://www.connectsafely.org
General Fraud Reporting
FTC ReportFraud Portal — https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
FTC Consumer Information on Scams — https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams
FBI IC3 Annual Reports — https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport
Sources and Further Reading
FTC Consumer Sentinel Network Data Book 2023 — https://www.ftc.gov/reports/consumer-sentinel-network-data-book-2023
FBI Elder Fraud Report 2023 — https://www.ic3.gov/Media/PDF/AnnualReport/2023_IC3ElderFraudReport.pdf
FBI Cryptocurrency Fraud Resources — https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/cryptocurrency-fraud
FBI Employment Fraud Resources — https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/employment-fraud
Wall Street Journal, CEO voice cloning fraud — https://www.wsj.com/articles/fraudsters-use-ai-to-mimic-ceos-voice-in-unusual-cybercrime-case-11567157402 CNN,
Hong Kong deepfake video call fraud — https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/04/asia/deepfake-cfo-scam-hong-kong-intl-hnk/index.html
AARP Fraud Watch Network — https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud
Identity Theft Resource Center — https://www.idtheftcenter.org
National Elder Fraud Hotline, operated by the U.S. Department of Justice for older adults who have experienced fraud: 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311) or https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope
SSA OIG Scam Awareness — https://oig.ssa.gov/scam-awareness
IBM Security Threat Intelligence Report — https://www.ibm.com/reports/threat-intelligence
Even with awareness of specific scams, it is possible to become a target. The next section, What to Do If Scammed, provides practical guidance on immediate steps, reporting channels, and protecting yourself and others after an incident.
Last Reviewed: May 2026