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Welcome back. And a warm hello to anyone joining us for the first time.
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This one is a little different from our usual issue. Most weeks I am showing you a new way to use AI. This week I want to show you a new way AI is being used against you, and more importantly, how to spot it before it costs you anything.
Scams are not new. Your instincts already know what a suspicious email looks like. The problem is that AI has quietly removed most of the clues you used to rely on. The bad grammar is gone. The awkward phrasing is gone. Even the voice on the phone can now sound exactly like someone you love.
I do not want you to be scared of this. I want you to be ready for it. And the good news is that the same AI tools you already use can help you check your work before you click, send, or answer.
Why this matters more now than it did a year ago
Scam messages used to be easy to spot because they were written by someone working in their second or third language, often in a hurry. AI writes fluent, polished, personalized messages in seconds, in perfect English, matching the tone of a real bank, a real employer, or a real family member. It can also clone a voice from a few seconds of audio pulled off a social media video.
That means the old advice, "watch for typos," does not protect you the way it used to. You need a couple of new habits instead. Here are four ways to use AI itself as your second set of eyes.
Four prompts to try this week
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Prompt 1: Get a second opinion on a suspicious message Before you click a link, call a number, or reply to anything that feels slightly off, paste the message into AI and ask it to break down what is suspicious about it. AI is very good at spotting the small pressure tactics that scams rely on, urgency, fear, a reward that arrives too easily. It cannot tell you with certainty that something is a scam, but it can tell you exactly what to be cautious about, in plain language, in under a minute. Marlene in Thunder Bay got a text claiming to be from her bank, saying her account would be locked in one hour unless she confirmed her information through a link. Instead of clicking, she pasted the text into ChatGPT and asked what stood out. It flagged the fake urgency, the mismatched bank name in the link, and the fact that real banks do not lock accounts by text. She deleted it and called her bank directly to confirm, just to be sure. Fill in the blank:
Ready to use example:
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Prompt 2: Understand voice cloning and set up a family safe word You have probably heard of the "grandparent scam," where someone calls claiming to be a relative in trouble, asking for money urgently. What has changed is that scammers can now clone a real voice from a short video clip found online, so the call can genuinely sound like your son, your daughter, or your grandchild. Ask AI to explain how this works and to help you set up a simple, low-tech defense, a safe word your family agrees on ahead of time, that would never be shared publicly. Wendell in Moose Jaw has three grandchildren spread across the country and worried about this exact scenario after seeing a news story on it. He asked Claude to explain how voice cloning scams typically play out and to suggest a simple safe word system his whole family could remember. He picked one, called everyone to share it, and now sleeps a little easier. Fill in the blank:
Ready to use example:
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Prompt 3: Check a vendor or invoice email before you pay it (small business scenario) If you run a small business, this one is for you specifically. A growing scam involves AI-written emails that appear to come from a real supplier or even your own boss, asking you to update banking details or rush a payment. The writing is polished enough that it no longer sets off the alarm bells it used to. Paste the email in and ask AI to flag anything inconsistent with how that vendor normally communicates, then always confirm any change to payment details by phone, using a number you already have on file, not one in the email. Tariq owns a small landscaping supply business in Kelowna and received an email that looked like it came from his usual fertilizer supplier, asking him to send payment to a new account before Friday. Something felt rushed about it. He pasted the email into ChatGPT and asked what stood out. It flagged the changed reply-to address and the unusual urgency. He called his supplier directly using the number from a past invoice. They had never sent the email. Fill in the blank:
Ready to use example:
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Prompt 4: Spot the signs of an AI-generated photo Marketplace listings and dating profiles are increasingly using AI-generated or AI-edited photos to look more appealing or, in the worst cases, to invent a person who does not exist. Ask AI to walk you through what to actually look for, hands, ears, background text, reflections, and lighting that does not quite make sense. It is a genuinely useful skill to have in your back pocket, and it takes ten minutes to learn. Colleen in Fredericton was chatting with someone online who seemed almost too polished, every photo looked professionally lit. She asked Claude what typically gives away an AI-generated image and went back through the photos with that checklist in mind. A few small details did not add up. She ended the conversation and reported the profile. Fill in the blank:
Ready to use example:
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One more thing worth bookmarking
If you ever do suspect a scam, or want to report one, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre is a free, legitimate resource worth having on hand. You can reach them at 1-888-495-8501 or online at antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca. They cannot always intervene directly, but reporting helps them track patterns and warn others.
Your challenge this week
Pick one prompt from today and actually try it, even if nothing suspicious has landed in your inbox yet. If you have a family member who could be a target for the grandparent scam, Prompt 2 is worth doing together this week. A safe word takes five minutes to set up and could save someone a lot of money and a lot of fear.
Coming up next issue
Next issue we are looking at the other side of AI and money, using it to help with a side hustle or small business you are already running, or one you have been thinking about starting. Practical, low-cost ways to get more done without hiring anyone.
AI assisted, Human led. Whatever AI produces for you, always read it, verify it, and make it sound like you. AI is an incredible first draft machine. Your judgment, your voice, and your values are always the final layer. |
As always, I read every reply personally. Have you ever come close to falling for a scam, AI-powered or otherwise? Hit reply and tell me about it. Chances are you are not the only one, and your story might help someone else catch one before it catches them.
If you found this useful, forward it to someone in your life who could use the heads up, especially anyone who might be a target for these kinds of calls or messages.
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Talk soon,
Chris
Founder, AI, Eh?