How Technology Makes Scams Believable and How Bitdefender Helps Keep You Safe

Technology powers everything we do – from AI assistants that simplify our lives to IoT devices and social platforms that keep us connected. However, the very tools that empower individuals and businesses also give criminals with new ways to defraud victims worldwide.

Scammers exploit technology to the max, using it to create scams that feel more believable than ever.

Technology gives scammers three critical advantages:

1. Scale: Fake ads or phishing messages can reach millions instantly.
2. Personalization: Criminals cross-reference stolen data from past breaches or crawl social media platforms to gather information on targets and tailor their scams.
3. Trust Exploitation: Scammers mimic the platforms and technologies we use daily, from banks, social media, and messaging apps, making their scams look legitimate.

Let’s take a look at how technology can be used for good, and how cybercriminals twist it to build a global scam business.

Deepfakes and Voice Cloning Enable a New Age of AI Scams

How AI serves us: Artificial intelligence has been a driving force of innovation in medicine, personal assistants, fraud detection, and other industries.

How scammers exploit it: AI enables deepfake scams, AI-powered phishing, password cracking, and even the creation of malicious code. In terms of AI-enabled fraud, cybercriminals can create fake audio calls that sound exactly like your boss, a family member, or even a politician. They also generate flawless phishing emails that perfectly mimic corporate communications. Victims are tricked into sending money, sharing data, or trusting fake content because it looks and sounds authentic.

Amplifying Scams at Scale Through Social Media

How social media serves us: Platforms empower communities, businesses, and global conversations.

How scammers exploit it: Fraudsters use social platforms to reach millions of people. Fake ads, cloned influencer accounts, and cryptocurrency cons spread quickly. Algorithms that prioritize “engaging” content often amplify scam posts, allowing them to go viral.

Millions of users can be exposed to scam campaigns within hours, particularly during global events.

Using Communication Platforms in Large-Scale Phishing and Smishing Attacks

How communication platforms serve us: Email, SMS, and instant messaging keep us more connected and productive.

How scammers exploit it: Cybercriminals launch phishing (email) and smishing (SMS) scams across multiple channels. Victims may get an email from a “bank,” followed by a text “alert” and even a WhatsApp message from “support.” Multi-platform attacks create the illusion of legitimacy and urgency, tricking people into clicking links or sharing sensitive data.

Election and Event-Based Scams

How events serve us: Elections, global sports, and cultural moments bring people together.

How scammers exploit it: Criminals hijack major events to spread fake donation campaigns, deepfake propaganda, or fraudulent ticket sales. During elections, AI-generated political messages manipulate trust and sway opinions. Public confidence is undermined, and individuals may be tricked into giving away money or disclosing personal information.

How Bitdefender Uses Technology to Protect You

Just as scammers weaponize technology, Bitdefender leverages it to block scams, stop malware, and keep you and your family safe. Here’s how:

• Bitdefender Antivirus (Free & Paid): Protects against malware, ransomware, phishing links, and malicious downloads often used in scams.
• Bitdefender Link Checker (Free): Instantly checks suspicious URLs in emails, social posts or chats.
• Bitdefender Scamio (Free): A free AI-powered scam detector. Upload screenshots, text messages, or links, and Scamio will analyze them in seconds, alerting you against scams.
• Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android: Features call blocking to stop scam calls and robocalls from reaching you.
• Bitdefender Digital Identity Protection: Monitors your personal data on the dark web and alerts you instantly if your identity is at risk.
• Bitdefender Threat Intelligence: Uses AI and machine learning to detect global scam campaigns in real time and block them at the source.

Technology can always serve both sides. Stay one step ahead of scammers, protecting your family’s wellbeing by leveraging Bitdefender technologies.