LOUISIANA (KTAL/KMSS) — With tax season and the upcoming presidential election, the Federal Trade Commission reports an increase in robocalls, and the complexity of fraud is rising due to the use of artificial intelligence.

The FTC defines imposter scams as someone pretending to be a trusted friend/family member to get consumers to send money or give personal information. It states they were the most commonly reported type of fraud in the United States last year.

Nationwide, the FTC recorded a total loss of $657.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 due to imposter scams.

FTC states that many scams go unreported, making it difficult to determine the actual number of people affected.

In Louisiana, over 3 million residents registered for the National 'Do Not Call' Registry last year, while there were over 19,801 complaints per 100,000 residents.

Fraudsters are employing various software bots, including those powered by generative AI, in order to automate fraudulent activities. This automation has made fraud more scalable and efficient than ever before.

FTC provides tips on avoiding AI and phone scams:

• If someone says that your loved one is in danger and needs money, or it seems your loved one is contacting you for help, try to reach them directly or through a family member or friend.
• It is recommended to have code words or phrases for the risk of potential AI hoax calls.
• You can’t trust caller ID. Criminals can spoof a phone number to make it look like a call is coming from your sister or the local police.
• Never send money or buy gift cards responding to a threatening phone call.

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