As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, so do cybercriminal tactics. In 2025 AI-driven scams will be bigger, bolder, and way harder to spot. From ultra-personalized phishing messages to deepfake tech support scams, cybercriminals are leveling up their game - making it tougher than ever to tell what’s real and what’s fake. AI will empower scammers to automate and personalize their fraud at an unprecedented scale.
Find out six AI scam predictions for 2025 that every internet user needs to watch out for.
Key Takeaways
- AI Scams Are Exploding: Online scams are expected to double in 2025 as AI makes phishing messages, scam calls, and fake websites harder to spot.
- AI-Powered Tech Support Scams: Scammers will use AI to make thousands of realistic-sounding phone calls at once, tricking victims with human-like conversations.
- Hyper-Personalized Phishing Attacks: AI will use leaked personal data to craft highly targeted scam emails, texts, and calls that feel very real.
- Scams Look More Legitimate Than Ever: Poorly written scam messages are a thing of the past—AI lets scammers create flawless, professional-looking content.
- AI Tools Are at Risk Too: Hackers may exploit AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, to access user data through prompt injection attacks.
- Fake AI Websites Spreading Malware: Scammers are setting up fake AI service sites, mimicking real tools like OpenAI’s, to infect users with malware.
Boogie down the secure path
The Rise of AI Scams: What to Expect in 2025
1. A Surge in Online Threats: 4.5x More Scams
From 2023 to 2024, Guardio recorded a 4.5x increase in online threats per user. This means that with the same online habits, people are encountering more threads year by year.
Looking at 2025 with the increase of AI, we’ll expect to see this number double itself.
Leveraging AI, scammers are creating and spreading more sophisticated attacks, including phishing emails, malicious links, and scam texts, leaving users increasingly exposed.
The human eye is no longer able to spot many of these threats. This is why it's crucial to use advanced technology like Guardio to spot scams.
2. Next-Gen Tech Support Scams: AI-Powered Deception at Scale
Generative AI is taking scamming to the next level, enabling highly personalized phishing attacks at an unprecedented scale. Scammers can now use AI to conduct tech support or customer support scams, but with a more powerful, authentic feel.
If before AI a tech support scam call was done by a real person, Imagine one operator making 10,000 phone calls simultaneously by using AI, each call tailored with specific narratives based on the data the scammer has on the victim (name, age, language, address, hobbies, etc.).
These calls are designed to push the right buttons, making the victim more likely to fall into the trap. And all of this is done with a real human voice, real answers, and relevant responses. These AI capabilities are already available!
3. Hyper-Personalized Attacks: Turning Your Data Against You
AI-generated narratives will allow scammers to deliver the perfect phishing scam for each individual. Every data leak or personal detail you share online can and will be used against you to craft highly targeted spear-phishing attacks.
Scammers could tailor phishing messages, emails, and calls with specific data on each victim (such as their name, address, age, and more). This would allow scams to become much more personalized and, therefore, more dangerous.
Be cautious about what you share - it could be weaponized against you.
4. Polished and Professional: Tailored Scams That Look Legit
What used to be easy to spot - scams riddled with typos, bad translations, or low-quality graphics - are already a thing of the past. Generative AI enables scammers to create flawless content that looks and feels more legitimate. Even those without design skills or knowledge of the target language can now produce professional-looking creatives and messaging.
Scammers can rapidly update their tactics, varying content at high speeds to avoid detection. This can be used for everything from package delivery scam texts to fake shopping websites, or even high-quality video commercials featuring celebrity deepfakes appearing as if they belong in a Super Bowl ad.
Personalized scam narrative for victim created by ChatGPT
5. Next-Level Data Breach: GPT Prompt Injection
Scammers will increasingly target AI tools like ChatGPT, which store vast amounts of personal data. Your genAI account logs every piece of information you input and every question you ask - work-related information, personal details, and even sensitive intellectual property.
Through prompt injection, scammers can access this data, exploiting your AI assistant to retrieve critical information.
As these scams become more sophisticated, protecting your data and remaining vigilant is more important than ever.
6. Fake Generative AI Sites Mimicking OpenAI: A Growing Threat
From July to just before the holiday season, there has been a steady increase in searches related to AI that returned monetized results.
This trend reflects growing user interest and increased ad targeting by businesses - and potentially by scammers. As fraudsters tend to follow popular trends, we anticipate a rise in malicious websites disguised as AI-related services.
In December, our team uncovered scammers impersonating OpenAI’s text-to-video tool, Sora, by setting up fake websites designed to distribute malware.
Monitoring this surge is critical to identify and prevent exploitative activities.
🚨@OpenAI officially released its text to video generator Sora this week, and scammers are quick to act.
— Guardio (@GuardioSecurity) December 12, 2024
They’re running fake ads leading to sites mimicking Sora.
Guess what happens if you click "download" on one of these sites? Malware is downloaded straight to your device. pic.twitter.com/BzGoWfXivh
Conclusion
In 2025, AI-driven fraud will reach new heights, from hyper-personalized phishing attacks to deepfake-powered tech support scams. With AI enabling scammers to automate deception at scale, internet users must stay vigilant and rely on advanced security tools to stay safe. Try Guardio and protect your browsing from scams, phishing attempts, and rising AI frauds in 2025.
Related articles:
- How to Avoid Most Popular AI Scams
- Deep Fake Scams & Ad Fraud Guide
- Targeted Phishing & Spear Phishing Protection
- Understanding Infostealer Malware
- Highway to Hell: Toll SMS Phishing Scams
