Hackman: Protect Yourself From AI Impersonation Scams

A familiar voice is not proof of identity. Bank scams and AI-enabled impersonation feel convincing because they feel human and target emotion, authority and urgency rather than technology alone.

Generative AI can make impersonation very difficult to distinguish from a genuine interaction, but the good news is that the underlying scam pattern is familiar: create pressure, borrow trust and push the target towards an irreversible action.

Recognise the pressure

The request may involve a payment, new banking details, a one-time code, confidential information or an urgent favour. The details may vary, but the pressure pattern is remarkably consistent. When in this situation, treat urgency as a reason to slow down, not speed up.

Verify before you act

The US Federal Trade Commission’s guidance on AI voice-cloning scams explains why a familiar voice should be verified by calling a number you already know. Use a trusted second channel to verify unusual or sensitive requests. Call a known number, speak to the person directly or follow the established approval process. Never share passwords, PINs or one-time codes. If money or account access may be at risk, report the situation immediately through the correct internal and financial channels before taking any other action.

Identify the terms with Hackman

Hackman is Prventi’s cyber security awareness word game, modelled on Hangman. Each wrong letter advances a simulated cyber breach. Complete the security term before the game’s integrity runs out, then read the debrief to understand the lesson.

After the game, think of an urgent request you might receive at work. Which trusted number or internal channel would you use to check it? Identifying that route now gives you a clear next step if a similar request arrives.

Hold the line in Hackman