Scammers may pose as representatives of a bank, government institution, or delivery company, pretend to be a close person, and their messages do not always raise suspicion. Artificial intelligence has further refined these deceptions – today it is possible not only to create correct and convincing text but also to imitate a human voice or image.
Therefore, caution alone is no longer enough. It is important to know what signs may reveal a scam and how to act when even the slightest doubt arises. Romas Čereška, Head of Development at Citadele Bank, explains what to pay attention to and which mistakes in such situations can be the most costly.
Pressure to act should raise suspicion
The less time there is to pause, verify information, or consult with someone else, the easier it is to create fear, confusion, and prompt an impulsive decision.
According to R. Čereška, pressure to act immediately is often one of the clearest signals that someone is trying to manipulate a person. It is no coincidence that almost every scam story involves an allegedly urgent problem.
The caller may introduce themselves as a bank employee and report a supposedly suspicious transaction, another as a police officer warning that someone is trying to steal money. The message may mention a blocked account, a detained package, or the need to confirm data as soon as possible.
Such situations can seem especially convincing to older people when the caller speaks confidently, presents themselves as a bank or institution representative, and pressures to act immediately. This creates the feeling that hesitation is dangerous and the decision must be made right away.
According to the expert, although scenarios may vary, their goal is the same – to prevent the person from stopping, doubting, and calmly assessing what is really happening.
“If you are told that a decision must be made immediately, urged not to end the conversation, not to consult anyone, or to make a payment as soon as possible, that is already a very serious signal,” says R. Čereška.
In such situations, the call to hurry should be a reason to stop, not to act. The safest option is to end the conversation and contact the bank or institution yourself using officially provided contacts.
A fake website can become a trap
For a scammer, it is important not only to create tension but also to encourage a person to take a specific action – for example, click on a sent link and enter their data.
Such links may arrive via SMS or email, pretending to be from a bank, delivery company, or another well-known institution. The page itself may look completely normal at first glance. A familiar logo, the same colors, a usual login window – a person may not suspect that they have landed somewhere other than expected.
Just by looking at such a page, it can be difficult to recognize a fake. The greatest risk arises when login details or other sensitive information are entered. This information can immediately reach scammers, who may simultaneously try to access the person’s real bank account.
“If you receive an unexpected bank message, it is safest not to click on the link in it. It is better to open the bank app yourself or manually enter the bank’s internet address in the browser,” says the bank representative.
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It is also important to pay attention to what is being asked to confirm on the phone. If it shows an action you did not initiate, you should not confirm it. In such cases, it is best not to confirm anything and contact the bank independently.
A familiar voice can mislead
Artificial intelligence has given scammers another dangerous opportunity – to imitate a human voice. Sometimes publicly available audio or video recordings are enough for this, so a familiar voice on the phone does not necessarily mean that a close person is really speaking on the other end.
According to R. Čereška, such scams usually rely on what affects a person most strongly – an unexpected misfortune and fear for a loved one. An alleged son, daughter, or grandchild may say they have been in an accident, hospital, or other trouble and ask to transfer money urgently. The less time there is to doubt, the easier it is to believe what we hear.
“If a loved one suddenly asks to urgently transfer money, end the conversation and call them back at a number you already have. Even if the voice sounds familiar, first make sure you are really talking to your relative,” reminds the bank representative.
It is worth agreeing in advance within the family on a security question or word known only to close ones. This can help quickly verify whether an unexpected call is genuine.
A familiar face – a scammer’s cover
Scammers increasingly fake not only voices but also images. Using artificial intelligence, it is possible to create a recording in which a person appears to be speaking or recommending something they never actually said.
Such fakes are called deepfake. Previously, they were often revealed by unnaturally moving lips, strange voices, or facial mismatches, but today these signs can be barely noticeable.
According to R. Čereška, scammers often use such fakes for financial fraud. Videos may appear on social networks where a well-known person supposedly recommends an investment platform, promises quick profits, or urges not to miss an exclusive opportunity.
In such cases, it is important to evaluate not only how convincing the recording itself looks. If a well-known person suddenly urges investment or promises unusually high returns, it is worth checking their official accounts, information about the advertised company, and what reliable sources say about it.
What to do if in doubt?
Scammers’ methods constantly change, so the most important thing is not to try to memorize every new scam method but to know how to act when doubts arise. According to R. Čereška, older people especially benefit from simple rules discussed in advance with close ones – whom to call, how to verify an unexpected request, and which actions should never be confirmed.
- Don’t rush. If you are urged to make a decision immediately, it is worth pausing. Scammers often deliberately create pressure so that a person cannot calmly think or verify information.
- Don’t click on links in messages. If you need to log into a bank or other account, it is safer to open the official app or manually enter the internet address in the browser.
- Do not disclose login details. Passwords, PIN codes, and other login details should not be given out by phone, message, or email.
- Do not confirm unknown actions. If you are asked to confirm login or payment by mobile signature or other means that you did not initiate, do not confirm anything.
- End the conversation and call back yourself. If a payment, data submission, or other unusual action is requested in the name of a bank, institution, or close person, contact that person at a number you already know, and the institution via its officially published contacts.
- Consult. If something raises doubts, there is no need to make an immediate decision. A brief conversation with a close person or additional information verification can help better assess what is really happening.
According to R. Čereška, the most important thing is not to try to predict what new method scammers will choose next time but to know when it is worth stopping.
“The goal of scammers is to make a person act without thinking. Therefore, doubt in such a situation is not an obstacle – on the contrary, it is a reason to stop. A few minutes spent calmly assessing the situation can help avoid serious losses,” concludes R. Čereška.
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