A few months ago I got a phone call that stopped me cold.

The voice on the other end sounded like a young man in serious trouble. He was crying. He said he’d been arrested and needed money fast. He even used a family name.

If I hadn’t known better, it would have shaken me.

And that’s when it hit me…

If this almost fooled me, how many people is it fooling every day?

Welcome to the new era of AI scams.

Scams Didn’t Suddenly Get Smarter — AI Made Them Dangerous

Scammers used to be easy to spot:

• Broken English

• Awkward scripts

• Obvious lies

That’s over.

In 2025 and 2026, artificial intelligence scams gave criminals the ability to:

• Clone real voices

• Write perfect phishing emails

• Create fake videos

• Impersonate banks, companies, and family members

These AI scam phone calls, AI scam emails, and fake videos are now fooling people who have never been scammed before.

If you want a detailed breakdown of how these scams work, I built a full guide here:
👉 AI Scams in 2026 – What Every Computer User Needs to Know

Why So Many Smart People Are Getting Tricked

I talk to people every day who say:

“I’m usually careful. I don’t fall for scams.”

And then they describe:

• A calm “bank employee” on the phone

• A crying grandchild

• A PayPal or Apple email that looks perfect

• A realistic video

This is why people are Googling:

• “Is this call a scam?”

• “AI voice scam”

• “fake bank call”

• “how to tell if an email is real”

AI removed the biggest warning signs we used to rely on.

The Scariest AI Scam Right Now

The most dangerous trend is the AI voice cloning scam.

Criminals pull audio from:

• Facebook

• TikTok

• Instagram

• Voicemail greetings

They use AI to recreate that person’s voice.

So when you hear your grandchild crying, it actually sounds like them.

That’s why this is sometimes called the AI grandparent scam — and it is costing families millions.

One Simple Rule That Stops Most Scams

Real companies do not:

• Demand secrecy

• Pressure you to act immediately

• Ask for gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers

• Ask for login codes or PIN numbers

Scammers always do.

Fear and urgency are the tools.
Verification and calm are the cure.

Not Sure If Something Is a Scam?

This is what I help people with every day.

If you’re staring at a weird email, strange website, pop-up, or phone call and wondering:

• “Is this a scam?”

• “Did I just get hacked?”

• “Should I be worried?”

You can reach me here:
👉 Honest Computer Help – That Tech Jeff

No upselling. No pressure. Just real answers.

Protecting Yourself in the AI Era

The truth is, AI scams are only going to increase.

That’s why I created this free, easy-to-read guide:
👉 AI Scams in 2026 – What Every Computer User Needs to Know

If you share nothing else with friends or family, share that page.

It might save someone you love from losing their money.

— That Tech Jeff