AARP warns against AI scams impersonating celebrities

ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) — AARP is warning consumers about impersonation scams that are all the more real because of artificial intelligence (AI).

“With A.I. faces can be cloned, voices can be cloned,” explained Shannon Abell, community ambassador with Virginia AARP.

Last year, actor Tom Hanks had to post to social media to let his fans know that a dental ad featuring his face was made with AI.

The same technology can be used to make it look like your favorite celebrity wants fans to donate to an organization or enter a competition.

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“It is hard for someone to know if you’re actually on a good website for a star you’re looking for or a criminal’s website,” said Abell. “I was just talking to a lady just yesterday in Roanoke that lost $20,000 to a pop-up email on her computer.”

If you’re not sure about an organization or website, you can check its legitimacy with the Better Business Bureau.

You can learn more about avoiding scams at the AARP’s Fraud Resource Center, or even organize a presentation on avoiding scams from Abell himself by reaching out at 76hokieman@cox.net.

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