The rise of AI-driven fraud is compelling professionals to scrutinize online communications rigorously. Nicole Yelland, a public relations worker, shares her practices of verifying meeting requests to counteract scams she previously fell victim to. Digital impersonation, worsened by advanced artificial intelligence, is proliferating across multiple platforms, including LinkedIn, making it increasingly difficult to discern real people from AI-generated profiles. Scam reports related to employment have surged since 2020, with losses escalating dramatically, highlighting the urgent need for vigilance in digital interactions.
If Yelland sounds paranoid, that's because she is. In January, before she started her current nonprofit role, Yelland says, she got roped into an elaborate scam targeting job seekers.
The same artificial intelligence tools that tech companies promise will boost worker productivity are also making it easier for criminals and fraudsters to construct fake personas in seconds.
According to the US Federal Trade Commission, reports of job and employment related scams nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024, and actual losses from those scams have increased from $90 million to $500 million.
Digital imposter scams aren't new; messaging platforms, social media sites, and dating apps have long been rife with fakery.
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