Scams are getting smarter — not just nastier. In 2025, fraudsters aren’t just phishing with stolen logos; they’re using artificial intelligence to mimic voices, create fake video calls, or impersonate trusted organizations. If it sounds like sci-fi, that’s because it’s the new frontier of fraud.
What is an AI-powered impersonation scam?
This is when scammers use AI tools (voice cloning, deepfakes, or generative models) to imitate someone you trust — your bank, your family member, even your boss. They might:
- Call you saying your account is compromised, using a cloned voice of someone you know
- Send a video “from your bank” with realistic-looking agents asking for verification
- Combine this with urgency (“Your account will be frozen in 10 minutes unless you cooperate.”)
Real-world examples & trends
- Experts warn that “anti-fraud team impersonation” is rising — scammers pose as your bank’s fraud department to manipulate you.
- In recent years, losses reported from impersonation scams (bank, government, etc.) have been among the highest categories of fraud.
- Some criminals use AI to replicate voices or faces of your relatives to “vouch” for a request, making the deception even more believable.
Red flags & warning signs
- The caller demands immediate action (e.g. “You must send money or login now.”)
- The conversation seems slightly “off” — e.g. odd phrasing, mispronunciations, or delays in speech
- You don’t initiate the communication — they came to you
- They ask you to move money, gift cards, or send codes/information
How you can protect yourself
- Pause and verify — Hang up and call a known bank number before responding.
- Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) — but don’t share your OTP (one-time password) with anyone.
- Ask for proof — A real bank will not refuse to provide a safer method for verifying identity.
- Document everything — who called, what they asked, the timeframe — this helps investigators.
- Report promptly — If something feels wrong, contact us (Peshtigo National Bank) or your financial institution right away.
We at Peshtigo National Bank want you to sleep better at night knowing your money is safe and your awareness is your best shield. Stay alert, trust your instincts, and if ever in doubt — call us.