Dec. 8 (UPI) — The FBI warned Americans Monday to guard against holiday scams as fraudsters weaponize artificial intelligence and use pressure tactics to steal from consumers.
“If you feel pressured to act fast, pay money, or turn over personal information — take a beat. Stop and assess if what you’re being told is real. Talk to your families. Protect each other from scams,” stated FBI Director Kash Patel.
Federal Bureau of Investigation officials also urged U.S. citizens to caution others against sharing sensitive information with individuals met online or over the phone.
On Monday, Patel added in a statement that scammers are “banking on the fact that you’ll feel too embarrassed to come forward and report the crime to the FBI.”
Additionally, authorities warned against sending money, gift cards, cryptocurrency or other assets to unknown contacts, which highlighted the growing risk of scams and fraud.
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 535,314 reports last year, detailing losses of $13.7 billion — an average of $25,700 per victim.
“Criminals don’t take holidays off,” the special agent in charge in the FBI’s San Francisco field office stated last year.
A 2023 study by McAfee suggested that 36% of Americans fell victim to an online shopping scam during the holiday season.
On Monday, federal officials confirmed from 2020 to last year that total reported losses for U.S. consumers reached a little more than $50 billion.
The bureau added that seniors older than 60 were the most affected both in total losses and number of complaints filed.
Last year, the Biden Treasury Department advised consumers to beware of urgent account notifications, to secure all devices and accounts and always verify websites and emails and avoid clicking links or responding at all to unsolicited requests.
According to the FBI, AI-fueled cyber fraud has been surging and topped scam reports to the FBI’s IC3 unit.
In the first seven months of this year, it said AI-linked complaints exceeded 9,000 across all scam categories.
Experts added that criminals utilize the AI tech to forge social media profiles, voice clones, fake IDs, and deepfake videos of public figures or loved ones.
Meanwhile, the federal bureau has offered a digital portal to learn more about growing frauds and scams impacting the general public.
Fraudulent or suspicious activities can be reported to the FBI. Victims over age 60 in need of assistance filing a complaint can contact the DOJ Elder Justice Hotline: 833-372-8311.
Attorney General Pam Bondi (C), FBI Director Kash Patel (R), U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro and others hold a press conference at the Department of Justice Headquarters on Thursday. The FBI arrested Brian Cole of Virginia, who is believed to be responsible for placing pipe bombs outside the Republican and Democratic party headquarters the night before the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo
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