Top 10 ways criminals are using AI
More than 1 in 10 successful scams in 2025 involved AI or deepfakes, which contributed to a 1,210% surge in AI-enabled scams, according to an analysis from BrokerChooser. That year, the FBI received more than 22,000 complaints involving AI-related fraud that perpetuated $890 million in reported losses.
“AI makes it trivially easy to clone a broker’s branding, generate a convincing voice, or fabricate a compliance certificate,” BrokerChooser Head Broker Analyst Adam Nasli said in a prepared statement. “The key is to never use contact details provided by whoever reached out to you.”
See also: Job scams: Protect your organization with these 5 tips
How to spot AI scams
Here are the analyst’s tips for spotting AI scams:
- The ‘lag trap test’: AI voice and video systems can sound convincing in short bursts, but real-time processing can introduce subtle delays that become more noticeable when the flow of conversation is disrupted. Fire off rapid, back-to-back questions such as “Can you confirm that?” followed immediately by “Where are you calling from right now?” A real person will adapt naturally, using fillers like ‘um’ or ‘uh’, while AI systems are more likely to produce slightly delayed answers or respond as if each question exists independently. These small timing cracks are often the first sign you’re not speaking to a human.
- Make them prove the room is real: Deepfake videos can simulate a face well, but they often struggle with real-world spatial awareness and physical interaction. The easiest way to expose this is to ask for small, spontaneous interactions with the environment. Ask for something simple but specific, like “I can’t see you properly, can you turn your camera to the left please?” Humans respond instantly and naturally while deepfake videos may struggle with realistic movement or background changes.
- Eyes and lips don’t lie: While faces may look convincing at first glance, inconsistencies often appear in how the eyes and lips move together. For example, lips that move too smoothly or don’t fully match spoken sounds are a red flag. Pay close attention to words that require fully closed lips like ‘P’, ‘B’ or ‘M’, as AI often struggles and shows mouths that stay slightly open or fail to close at the right moment. AI-generated blinks can also feel off, too consistent or disconnected from the conversation, while real blinking is more irregular and naturally tied to our speech and thought.
“Take the time to question what you’re being asked to do and verify who you’re communicating with,” Nasli concluded. “A few extra moments of caution can make the difference between falling victim and staying protected.”
Top 10 ways criminals are using AI
No. 10: Government impersonation
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 504
Total losses in 2025: $7,061,628
No. 9: Tech/Customer support (copyright/counterfeit)
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 574
Total losses in 2025: $10,103,789
No. 8: Non-payment/Non-delivery
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 609
Total losses in 2025: $10,283,732
No. 7: Confidence/Romance
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 626
Total losses in 2025: $11,750,591
No. 6: Employment
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 691
Total losses in 2025: $12,550,185
No. 5: Harassment/Stalking
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 763
Total losses in 2025: $18,767,964
No. 4: Phishing/Spoofing
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 803
Total losses in 2025: $19,041,653
No. 3: Personal data breach
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 1,204
Total losses in 2025: $19,457,078
No. 2: Extortion (business email compromise)
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 1,764
Total losses in 2025: $30,256,592
No. 1: Investment
Number of complaints recorded by the FBI in 2025: 4,356
Total losses in 2025: $632,041,188
