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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Artificial Intelligence

    Banking & Financial Scams

    As artificial intelligence has advanced, professional criminals and con artists have found new and increasingly sophisticated ways to defraud people. In particular, AI tools can manipulate audio and video to impersonate anyone, including the friends and family of potential victims. These impersonations, called “deepfakes,” have been used to facilitate a number of scams. 

    In July 2025, Governor Shapiro signed SB649, making the use of deepfakes to commit fraud a third-degree felony in Pennsylvania. The most common scams employing deepfakes thus far have been:

    • Ransom scams: The use of a deepfake to impersonate a member of a victim’s family (such as a grandchild). The impersonated family member will claim to have been kidnapped and direct the victim to quickly send money for their release.

    • False endorsement scams: The use of a deepfake to impersonate a celebrity or trusted community member to recommend a fraudulent product or investment. 

    Ways to protect yourself from AI-based scams:

    • Verify the source: Even messages that sound like a friend or relative could be fake. Make sure that messages from friends and family requesting money or personal information are coming from a known and trusted phone number, email address, or other established form of communication.

    • Work with trusted professionals: Trusted professionals like lawyers or financial advisors can help navigate financial situations and evaluate if they might be fraudulent. Be sure to research financial professionals before providing them access to your personal information.

    What to do if you believe you are the victim of an AI-based scam:

    Pennsylvanians encouraged to call 1-866-PACOMPLAINT, visit pa.gov/consumer, or email consumer@pa.gov to report financial, insurance, and consumer concerns.