ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCEhas become part of daily life for most internet users whether we like it or not. When we shop, share, watch, listen, date or the many other things we do online, chances are that AI is working in the background to both enhance your experience and influence your choices.
That’s why the charity Get Safe Online has teamed up with North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Andy Dunbobbin and North Wales Police to provide residents and local communities with expert tips and advice on using AI safely. Get Safe Online is a service commissioned by the Office of the PCC and the local Police Force to share helpful information and advice with the people of North Wales.
Tony Neate, CEO at Get Safe Online, commented: “Many of us use publicly available AI tools routinely to write, design, research and compare. One thing’s for sure: AI is here to stay. So, it’s more important than ever to understand how to use it safely and responsibly.”
There is lots more advice on the Get Safe Online website, but in the meantime the top must-do checks to spot AI-assisted scams are:
- Check the context: Be suspicious of unsolicited emails, messages or phone calls – even if they seem authentic. They could be fraudulent.
- Check the details: The spelling and grammar in AI-generated content may be perfect, but it sometimes includes inconsistencies, such as slightly odd email addresses, incorrect logos or unusual phrasing. In images and videos, check for signs of things not being quite as they should.
- Check identity independently: Don’t rely on just a message. Call or message the person or company using contact details you know to be correct, to check if the sender is genuine.
North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin, said: “Artificial Intelligence is becoming part of everyday life and, while it brings many benefits, it also creates new opportunities for criminals to exploit people. It’s vital that residents understand both the risks and how to protect themselves.
“By working with Get Safe Online and North Wales Police, we are making sure people across North Wales have clear, practical advice to help them stay safe, confident and informed online, which is an important part of my Plan for tackling crime in the region.”
Dewi Owen from North Wales Police Cybercrime Team added: “AI is a powerful tool for good, but in the wrong hands, it’s a digital mask for fraudsters.
“AI has stripped away many of the traditional ‘tell-tale’ signs of a scam, such as poor grammar or spelling. Because scams now look and sound professional, we must shift our mindset from ‘does this look right?’ to ‘can I verify this independently?’
“Always use a secondary method like a known official website or a trusted phone number to confirm who you are really dealing with before clicking any links or sharing any financial or personal information.
“By staying curious and verifying every unusual or unexpected request or contact, you stay one step ahead of the criminals.”
“Criminals are now also using AI to create highly convincing ‘deepfake’ audio and video, often impersonating celebrities, influencers, and political figures.
“These deepfake videos can sometimes look very realistic and are often used to endorse fraudulent ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes or to spread convincing misinformation.
“Because we are used to seeing these people on our screens, we feel a false sense of trust. Criminals exploit this by using AI-generated voices and faces to make a scam look like a legitimate recommendation or a factual news report.
“In the digital age seeing is no longer believing. If you encounter a video or a voice note that seems designed to provoke a strong reaction or asks for urgent financial help or promotes a once in a lifetime investment opportunity, treat it with extreme caution.
“In the age of AI, a 30-second pause to verify can be the difference between staying safe and becoming a victim.”
To protect yourself:
- Look for the ‘Glitch’: In deepfake videos, look for unnatural blinking, blurring around the mouth when they speak, or jewellery that seems to flicker.
- The “Shadow” Check: Look at the lighting. Does the shadow on the person’s face match the background? AI often gets light sources wrong.
- The “Mouth-Sync” Check: Watch the movement of the mouth closely. In some deepfakes, the speech doesn’t perfectly align with the lip movements, or the teeth look blurred and “merged” together. This is however getting much better and can now be difficult or impossible to spot.
- The Giveaway Offer: Ask yourself: “Would a world-famous celebrity really be giving away free Bitcoin in a Facebook ad?” If the offer is too good to be true, the person presenting it isn’t real.
- Check the Source: Misinformation often lives on “copycat” cloned websites that look like real news outlets but have slightly altered URLs (e.g., .co instead of .com).
- Out of the Blue: If you didn’t initiate the contact, and the ‘person’ on screen is asking for money or personal data, assume it’s a digital mask until you can verify it through a completely separate, trusted channel.
For more advice on how to use AI safely and responsibly visit the Get Safe Online website.
