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5 warning signs a message was written by AI
Scammers now write perfect English and can copy a loved one's voice from three seconds of audio. The old advice — "look for bad spelling" — is dead. Here's the new advice, in plain English.
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1. It creates urgency
"Act now", "within 24 hours", "before your account is closed", "don't tell
anyone". Real organisations — and real family members — almost never need you to
act this second. Urgency is the scammer's most important tool, because it stops
you thinking. What to do: slow down. Anything genuinely urgent will survive a
ten-minute pause.
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2. It ends in money or codes
However the story starts — a parcel, a grandchild in trouble, a tax refund,
a security alert — it always ends the same way: move money, buy vouchers, or read
out a code from a text. What to do: the moment money or a code is mentioned,
treat the whole conversation as suspicious.
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3. The voice is right but something's off
AI voice clones sound exactly like your loved one — but they avoid open
questions, push you to act fast, and the call quality often "conveniently" drops.
What to do: hang up and call the person back on the number you already have
for them. A real relative won't mind. Better still, agree a family safe word in
advance.
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4. It's a bit too polished
Flawless grammar, oddly formal phrasing, your name used slightly too often,
and details that are generic when you look twice ("your recent order", "your bank").
What to do: ask yourself — does this person normally write like this?
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5. It wants you to click, not check
The message provides its own link, its own phone number, its own "verify here"
button — anything to stop you going to the real website or real person yourself.
What to do: never use the contact route the message gives you. Go to the
organisation directly, using the address or number you find yourself.
The golden rule: scammers need speed and secrecy. Your defence is slowness and a second opinion.
When in doubt — get a second look.
Not sure about a message right now? Send it to me.
Your first Second Look check is free — a calm, human second opinion before you act. No question is too small.