AI-Powered Cybercrimes: How You Can Protect Yourself

Imagine one day, your phone rings. It's a loved one, their voice trembling with panic as they beg for help. Instinctively, you rush to respond—but something feels off. Is it really them, or is it just an AI-generated deepfake designed to trick you?

This is just one of the AI ​​deepfake cases inspired by viral true crime stories. AI is no longer just a technology that makes our lives easier. It has also become a powerful weapon for scammers and cybercriminals. Many dangers, such as fraud, financial crimes, and even manipulating real crime victims, are becoming even more common with AI.

This new generation of AI-related crimes can affect anyone, but high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) and expats are especially at risk of such attacks. Living abroad means constantly entering data into systems in different countries. Your personal information is recorded on many platforms, such as banks, immigration offices, business contacts, and investment accounts. In addition, expats and HNWIs make international money transfers, open accounts in different countries, and manage investments remotely, making them attractive targets for AI-powered financial crimes.

So, how should high-net-worth individuals and those who live an international life act to protect themselves as AI and crime rise? As AI crimes develop and news spreads, so do defence mechanisms, but technological measures are not yet accessible to everyone. In this article, I’ll discuss how AI crimes are evolving and what steps people like you can take. Ensuring safety in the age of AI depends not only on technology but also on good habits.

Let's first take a look at how AI is revolutionizing the world of crime and what you can do to protect yourself.

The rise of AI deepfakes of true crime victims is a chilling reminder of how artificial intelligence can be weaponized

AI-POWERED CYBERCRIME: NEW THREATS FOR EXPATS AND HNWIS

Let’s examine the most common types of threats powered by AI and how to protect against them.

AI FINANCIAL CRIMES AND IDENTITY THEFT

AI deepfake technology can be used to defraud people by creating fake audio, video, and text. Realistic video calls, voicemails, and emails created with this method pose the following risks:

• Scammers can try to approve financial transactions by impersonating bankers, lawyers, or family members;

• Fake video calls posing as investment advisors, business partners, or bank representatives can be arranged.

How can you protect yourself from AI-backed financial crimes and identity theft? Here are some useful habits:

• Always approve financial transactions in person or using multi-layered (MFA) verification;

• Use security tools that can analyze deepfake content. Since AI deepfakes of true crime victims, security precautions are necessary. 

• Set secret verification phrases or code words for banking transactions and do not share them with anyone.

Related content: Essential Guide For Expats: Safe Online Banking And Financial Transactions 

AI-POWERED PHISHING AND CYBER ​​FRAUD

Phishing attacks can be made much more personalized and realistic with AI. Fraudsters increase the likelihood of fooling the target by copying emails and websites almost exactly. For example:

• Fake emails that appear to come from banks or tax offices can be sent to expats;

• Artificial intelligence narrows down the target audience by determining which geographies or income groups the attacks are more effective;

• AI models with high language skills produce nearly error-free texts, making the messages persuasive.

Let's take a look at this AI crime example. An expat living in Dubai receives an email that he thinks is from an investment firm. The email states that his account information needs to be updated, and he is directed to a fake website created by AI. The user who clicks on the link during his busy work schedule unknowingly hands over his credentials to the fraudsters.

How can you protect yourself from these AI cyber crimes? Here are some good practices: 

• Instead of clicking on links in suspicious-looking emails, go to the institution's official website and check it yourself.

• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all your important accounts.

• Make it easier to detect fake messages by keeping security software and phishing filters up to date.

AI-POWERED SCAMS: HOW YOUR ONLINE DATA FUELS PERSONALIZED ATTACKS

AI predicts crime by analyzing vast datasets of historical crime records, geographic information, and other relevant factors. This kind of AI might be useful. However, AI predicting crime is becoming increasingly common in law enforcement, raising both opportunities and concerns because AI can also analyze your online habits to create tailored scams. Information sold on social media accounts and sometimes the dark web can fall into the hands of criminals. Here are some examples: 

• AI scans data from social media and other online sources to develop personalized attack scenarios.

• Attackers use the information they obtain to gain your trust by sending emails or messages that appear to “already know you.”

Here’s a possible scenario: A businessman receives a threatening email with details about his or her family and travel plans. The scammer gathers this information from the “dark web” and public social media accounts and then tries to trick the victim into paying.

How can you protect yourself from such a qualified scam? Here are some precautions you can take.

• Limit personal information shared on social media and regularly check your profile privacy settings.

• Have professional cybersecurity audits, which are necessary for HNWIs.

• Provide cybersecurity training to your family members and make sure they are careful not to share critical information.

Recent advancements in AI crime prediction tools have sparked debates on whether these technologies can truly prevent crime before it happens

AI CRIME PREVENTION: TACTICS FOR EXPATS

You don't have to be paranoid to combat AI-powered crime. Developing some important digital habits will go a long way toward protecting you.

You should start by reducing your digital footprint:

• Avoid sharing real-time locations as much as possible. Expats who travel frequently can put themselves at risk by sharing their location information publicly.

• Use pseudonymous accounts or different email addresses on non-financial platforms.

• Review your digital presence regularly, and delete any personal or financial information from past posts.

Securing financial transactions is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from AI-powered fraud. 

• Make important financial decisions (large investments, money transfers, etc.) through face-to-face or over-end encrypted communication.

• Always verify unexpected money transfer requests through a second method.

• Try to manage your bank account and financial applications with institutions that offer AI-based fraud detection systems.

You must be skeptical of AI-generated content to avoid any kind of scams. 

• Always be skeptical of unexpected calls or messages. Situations that require "urgent" or "immediate" intervention are common methods scammers use;

• Artificial intelligence tools that detect deepfakes can be preferred, especially by family offices or financial advisory units;

• Define "code words" or additional password-like security layers in financial approval processes.

While taking technological precautions against cyber fraud is very important, changing our digital habits is just as valuable as technological precautions. You should also pay attention to your family members' digital habits.

• Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility not only for you but also for your family members. Family members of expats, in particular, can unknowingly give scammers a clue when sharing their information on social media;

• Be careful when using applications that require high data demands, such as TikTok. Never share financial or private information on these applications;

• Run such social media applications on a completely separate device;

• Prevent your family from sharing too much personal information on social media;

• Create a method to verify the authenticity of any "emergency" message with a pre-determined password or code word;

• Educate young family members about the digital world's risks, especially topics such as deepfakes and identity theft.

From financial fraud to cyber crime AI systems, the intersection of artificial intelligence and criminal activity is reshaping global security

CONCLUSION

Although AI-powered cybercrimes are becoming increasingly sophisticated, building a strong defence for expats and high-net-worth individuals is possible. It is necessary to prefer face-to-face communication whenever possible or to use multi-layered verification methods. Developing safe digital habits and ensuring that your family and close circle adopt the same security culture can significantly increase your cybersecurity. You may also need regular cybersecurity audits and professional consulting, depending on your risk level. Remember, user awareness is as important as technological measures. Protecting yourself and your loved ones is possible with conscious choices and proactive steps.

The world is constantly changing, bringing new opportunities as well as new dangers. The world can be more complicated for expats than for others. To stay up-to-date and informed, you can subscribe to our newsletter and get your free special report on Plan-B Residencies and Citizenships. I’m happy to help you.