AI Scam Detection: New Tool Helps Seniors Spot Fraud

Fraudsters increasingly use artificial intelligence to mimic the voices of family members, pressuring victims into sending money quickly. This tactic exploits high-emotion moments, such as a grandchild calling in distress, to bypass logical checks.

Carol Gonsales, a scam prevention educator, created WiseStep AI to address this specific threat. The platform is a free online tool designed to help older adults, or kūpuna, evaluate potentially fraudulent digital communications. Gonsales cited her mother’s experience as the primary motivation for the project.

Gonsales explained that her mother, who was in the early stages of dementia, received approximately 150 phone calls a day. A fraudster had used her Medicare information to commit fraud, which became the final trigger for her father. As her caregiver, he disconnected their telephone to stop the constant ringing. Gonsales stated this event served as the catalyst for her work in scam prevention.

The tool operates through a feature called paste-and-check. Users can copy text from a suspicious email or message and paste it into the website’s input field. The system then analyzes the content to identify specific manipulation tactics, referred to by Gonsales as costumes.

These costumes indicate how the message attempts to influence the recipient. The tool checks for urgency, strong emotional appeals, or requests for unusual payment methods. This analysis helps users determine if the message is likely legitimate or if it is wearing a costume designed to trigger a rapid response.

If a fraud occurs, Gonsales advises victims to contact specific fraud lines immediately. Resources include AARP’s fraud number, an elder abuse fraud line, and the FBI’s scam reporting channels. She emphasized that support, rather than judgment, is the appropriate response. Gonsales noted that while losing $5,000 is a substantial loss, the goal is to help the victim maintain their dignity and move forward.

More resources for identifying and preventing AI scams are available on the WiseStep AI website. The organization provides guidance on navigating the digital threats facing the senior population.