Stay safe from AI-driven scams

Scammers are using Artificial intelligence (AI) more and more to improve their social engineering campaigns.

💡Just a reminder – social engineering is a technique used by criminals to manipulate victims into making payments or disclosing sensitive information.

This guide shows how to spot:

Phishing

Deepfakes

Voice cloning phishing (Vishing)

Emergency fraud support

Reach our dedicated team 24/7

Call 159

If you're in the UK

Message in-app

Tap the Support icon in the top right corner > Report fraud

How phishing often works – with the help of AI

Scammers write realistic emails, texts, or social media messages using AI to impersonate trusted organisations

The message can be highly relevant to their victims, as scammers use social media and other public sources to make the communication feel more trustworthy

The victim clicks a link or opens an attachment. They could share sensitive information – like passwords or bank details – or approve or make a payment

How to protect yourself from phishing scams

1. Before you receive phishing

Limit what you share online

Keep your social media accounts private and share less personal information.

Stay updated and secure

Keep your devices and apps up to date, and regularly review your security and privacy settings.

2. When your receive the phishing attack

Avoid suspicious links

Avoid clicking links in emails, even if they look like they come from a trusted organisation.

Go directly to the official website to check.

Question urgent requests

Be wary of unexpected emails asking you to act fast or download something.

Phrases like “act now” are often used to create panic.

Verify the communication

Check the sender’s address and look for generic greetings.

Never share passwords, one-time codes, or approve payments. Tide will never ask you for these over the phone or email.

How deepfake often works

Cybercriminals use AI to generate realistic content. A deepfake could be a video, audio, or image that copies a real person’s face or voice

Deepfakes often mimic executives, celebrities, or public officials. The "person" often speaks naturally and delivers a scripted message

The scammer pushes requests, such as false investments, and urgent action. They aim to gain access to the target's credentials, bank access, or receive payments

How to protect yourself from deepfake scams

Keep in mind that Tide will never video call you unexpectedly and request your details.

Question invites

Don’t accept unexpected video calls or meeting links unless you know or trust the sender.

Verify another way

Confirm sensitive requests using a different, trusted channel.

Resist urgency

Slow down, pause, and check with someone you trust before acting.

Check visual cues

Look for unnatural facial movement, mismatched lip-sync, or strange lighting and shadows.

How voice cloning often works

Scammers collect short audio clips. They could use social media, voicemail, or videos to recreate a person’s voice

They imitate someone the target trusts by mimicking their intonation, tone of voice, and even emotions

The scammer could ask for money or sensitive information. Acting on this can lead directly to financial loss or identity theft

How to protect yourself from voice cloning scams

Listen for audio cues

Cloned voices may sound flat, overly smooth, or slightly robotic, with odd pauses and little background noise.

A lack of natural fillers like “um” or “you know” can also be a warning sign.

Verify the caller

If a call claims to be from a person or organisation, hang up and contact them using a trusted, official number.

Always confirm through a separate, reliable channel before taking any action or disclosing information.

Set a password

Scammers often impersonate loved ones. To protect your family and friends, establish a secret word or phrase that you both agree on.

Use this to verify any unexpected or sensitive requests before taking action.

More practical tips to stay safe

With the rise of AI, hacking is becoming faster and more effective. Here are a few simple steps you can take to secure your accounts:

Strong passwords

Use long, strong, and unique passwords

MFA everywhere

Turn on multi-factor authentication

Password manager

Generate and store passwords using a trusted password manager

Three random words

Combine three or four long random words to create your password

What to do if you've been (or suspect you've been) targeted

Report it to Tide immediately. Call 159 from the UK, or tap the Support icon in the top right corner > Report fraud in your Tide app. Both options are available 24/7.

Apply for reimbursement of your lost finances. You may be eligible to have your money reimbursed, which you can learn more about here.

Find victim support groups if you need. There are many services set up to help people through the difficulties of being defrauded, which you can learn more about here.