Ai-driven scams targeting older americans grow more sophisticated, experts warn

AI is enabling increasingly convincing scams targeting older Americans, according to experts. A recent vulnerability in the PHP programming language, discovered last week, allowed attackers to hijack web servers and execute remote code, prompting emergency patches. Despite the swift response, experts warn that AI's advancement makes Americans more vulnerable to fraud. An AARP survey from April found 40% of older Americans have lost money to fraud. Scammers now use AI to clone voices, create deepfakes, and launch targeted scams, including romance scams that have cost victims millions. Experts like Take9 founder, who has fought scams for 25 years, emphasize basic cyber hygiene, such as multi-factor authentication and password managers. The FTC's 2025 report highlights online shopping, impersonation, and investment scams as top fraud types for older people. Interpol noted AI-enhanced fraud is 4.5 times more profitable than traditional methods. AARP Fraud Watch Network provides free resources, including a helpline that receives over 100,000 calls annually.