‘You should automatically be skeptical’: How to keep your money safe as scammers turn to AI

Scammers have more tools and tactics than ever to separate you from your money.

Keeping your money safe from scammers is becoming increasingly difficult.

Between new technology, artificial intelligence, and other clever tricks, there are ever-evolving ways that scammers are using to target victims.

“Nowadays, scammers are getting more creative in how they scam victims,” said Halifax Regional Police Const. Martin Cromwell.

“Spoofing numbers is one way. You’ll receive a phone call, and you’ll recognize the number, so you’ll think nothing of it.”

Recently, Halifax Regional Police charged a man in relation to a case specifically targeting seniors.

“On November 7, our investigators from the fraud unit arrested a man in relation to an ongoing Grandparent Scam investigation. Between May and June of 2025, there have been five incidents,” said Cromwell.

Sophisticated scams

With the rise in AI, scams are becoming more sophisticated.

“You’ve got everything from deepfake videos to deepfake voices, to fully cloned and manipulated websites that look exactly like your trusted financial institution, your utility, your favourite shopping site, you name it,” said Beauceron Security CEO David Shipley.

“It is almost impossible for the average person working quickly to distinguish what’s real versus what’s fraud online today.”

He also noted scammers are using information that has been leaked in data breaches to target people on a bigger scale.

It may sound simple, but Shipley said if a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

“We have to kind of work against how we’re wired as human beings to begin with. Seeing used to be believing. Not anymore. In fact, increasingly when it’s online, you should automatically be skeptical,” he said.

“Leaning into our emotional intelligence, that gut instinct, can cut down our risks by almost as much as half. So, using emotional intelligence is proven to help in that. Giving yourself time, not rushing, not multitasking is also really important.”Shipley suggests shopping local, particularly during the holiday season, can help.

“Google is now predicting scams are going to skyrocket. Think about supporting your local businesses, your downtown, your shops and others where you know they actually care about making sure that you get what you’re paying for.”

How to keep your money safe

Whether you spend money in person or online, Cromwell said you should be mindful of what information you’re sharing.

“In general, just don’t provide your personal information online through email or in person unless it’s somebody you trust or an organization that you verified or can verify,” he said.

“Be mindful of your bank statements. Whenever you make a purchase, maybe go back and review your bank statements after.”

He said it is important to stay vigilant all year-round.

“Scams are always changing, always evolving,” said Cromwell. “They’re always coming up with new ways to take someone’s money.”

Anyone who believes they are the victim of a scam should contact police or the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.