How to be vigilant in today's world of AI – Home Instead Richmond
Home Instead Richmond aims to keep both their clients and their families safe, whether in everyday life or on the internet. Read this blog to familiarise yourself with the way
In today’s digital world, both malicious scams and the spreading of fake news have become an increasingly serious concern. Recent statistics show that 42% of British Adults have been targeted by scammers in the past 12 months. However, with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence tools and the ease with which anyone can access them, it is becoming nearly impossible to discern social media scams as one could have previously. AI now enables the creation of highly realistic fabricated images, videos, and even Deepfaked voices, making social media scams and fake news more convincing and difficult to detect than ever before.
Our Care Professionals have noticed that scammers often target older adults, who may be less familiar with AI-generated media. The effects can be devastating for both the victim and their family. In the past year alone, over 1.8 million over-65-year-olds have fallen victim to online-based scams, making it more integral than ever to keep yourself aware of the forms they can take and how to avoid them. At Home Instead Richmond, we’ve seen first-hand the emotional impact this can have on our clients, so we’ve put together a simple guide that anyone can use to help determine if what they’re seeing online might be AI-generated or part of a scam.
When looking at an image on social media, purchasing an item from an advert or reading a news article, it is worth considering:
- Who is it coming from? Whether you receive a message in your Direct Messages or find a shocking article on Facebook, it is always worth considering the source before you believe it. Does the account look suspicious in any way?
Recently, one of our Care Professionals helped a client identify a fraudulent Facebook account that had sent them a message. The profile used an AI-generated image that looked incredibly realistic, making it appear genuine at first glance. However, after taking a closer look together, they noticed the account had no other photos, posts, or history before that morning: clear signs it was a scam. Thanks to the Care Professional’s guidance, the client avoided engaging with the fake account and learned how to spot similar scams in the future.
- Check for a label, most social media sites now state that all AI-generated media should be clearly labelled. Our Care Professionals help teach their clients to spot for these and what labels like this mean online.
- What are they asking for? Often, the biggest giveaway for a scam is if they are requesting you to send over confidential information, for example, your credit card details or address. If anyone asks for these details online, it’s always worth double-checking if they are legitimate.
- Are there any typos? Although with the introduction of AI, this is less likely, it is always worth double-checking to make sure there aren’t any obvious typos in the content or that they sound grammatically correct.
- Always check links. You can always use a free website checker like Google Transparency Report to ensure the link you’re clicking on doesn’t have any suspicious activity. Linking onto the previous point, typos within links are also common. Ensure to keep an eye out for double letters or a strange domain extension. Our Care Pros are more than happy to show your loved ones how to check if a link is safe.
- Is there a sense of urgency? Scammers often try to instil panic in their targets by creating a false sense of urgency. They may claim that immediate action is required, for example, saying an account will be suspended or a prize will be lost, and introduce a short deadline to stop people from thinking critically or verifying the information.
If unsure, just ask. One of the best things to do if you are unsure if a post or article is legitimate is to ask your friends or family. Our Care Professionals are trained in scam prevention and would be more than happy to help. Odds are, if there is something you have missed, they may flag it up!
Conclusion
At Home Instead Richmond, we’re dedicated to helping our clients live safely and independently, whether that’s through in-home care or guidance on navigating today’s digital world. We’re proud to be a trusted partner for our clients and their families, helping them feel confident, secure, and supported both at home and online. If you want to read more about keeping yourself or your loved ones safe from other forms of scams, check out our blog here.
