With young South Africans spending more time online than ever before, staying alert to AI-driven fraud has become a critical part of digital literacy.

These days, scammers impersonate famous people, influential people, or even close friends and family members via voice notes and videos produced by artificial intelligence. “What we’re seeing today is because so many people are on social media, instead of scammers trying to coerce you by sending you emails, we‘re actually seeing that AI is creating videos,” said FNB Head of Card Transact, Industry and Fraud Detection Chris Boxall.

FNB Head of Card Transact, Industry and Fraud Detection, Chris Boxall. Photo: Supplied

“And because AI and their visualisation technology have got so much better over time, these deep fakes, as we call them, are now able to convince users to share their card information or to invest in schemes that don’t exist.”

Boxall shared tips on not giving scammers easy access:

• Try not to use the same username and password on all of your platforms, especially banking apps, because if one is compromised, all of them will be compromised.
• We always suggest using an app instead of using websites or online banking because the app is certified.
• The key is not to share a username and password with anyone verbally or via text.
• Avoid clicking on emails with links, as they may contain harmful malware or redirect you to malicious websites.
• A two-factor authentication step adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step, which is often transmitted to your mobile device.
• AI is becoming good at voice duplication, where it is able to mimic the voices of other people. Always have a security question that only the person knows the answer to.
• Scammers thrive on panic and urgency. If you’re pressured to act fast, stop and reassess.
• Never share OTPs, PINs, or passwords, and guard your personal information like a hawk.

If you notice any suspicious activity, report it immediately through your banking app or contact your financial institution’s fraud department. In the digital age, awareness is your greatest defence, said Boxall.

OFM News/Zenande Mpame mvh