Attorney General reissues AI scam alert

Attorney General reissues AI scam alert

https://www.wnem.com/2026/03/04/attorney-general-reissues-ai-scam-alert/

Publish Date: 2026-03-04 13:45:00

Source Domain: www.wnem.com

• Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has reissued an alert on Artificial Intelligence and Scams to address the increasing use of AI by scammers targeting consumers.

• AI is being misused to create realistic deep-fake audio and video scams, where scammers clone voices using data from public social media posts or videos.

• Scammers often spoof the phone number of a loved one to impersonate them and make urgent demands for money with the intent to frighten and pressure victims into quick action.

• To combat these schemes, Nessel advises residents to be aware of warning signs, verify the identity of the caller, and avoid rushing to send money if pressured.

• Recommended defensive strategies include establishing a family verification phrase, not trusting caller ID since scammers can spoof numbers, verifying the situation by calling back from a known number, and being cautious of unusual payment requests, especially those involving cryptocurrency, gift cards, or hard-to-trace payment methods.

• Commonly observed signs of scams include high-pressure tactics, using fear, enticing offers, or demands for sensitive information, and unusual payment methods.

• For victims of scams, Nessel advises notifying local law enforcement, filing a report with the Federal Trade Commission, reporting fraudulent charges to banks or payment service providers, and contacting the issuers of any gift cards or money transfer services used.

• Residents can report or seek help for scams by contacting the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection team directly or online.