Beware the Dark Side of Texts: AI Scams Rise, Young Padawans!

A Text A Trap Is

Hmm received strange texts lately have you? "Hey how are you?" they ask. Harmless it seems. But beware young Padawans! A trap it often is. Scammers using AI they are. Trying to trick you into revealing secrets. "Sorry I'm running a little late; I'll meet you for dinner at 6:15," they say these scammers patience they have not... unless of course there's free food involved. Then patience they have.

Active Number They Seek

Active your number must be! Responding you are. Adding you to their list they will. Future scams they plan. "Adding the number to their database so they can target it surgically for future scams," the wise Steve Grobman says. Validating your number they are. Like the Force ever present. But a dark side this is.

Relationships Built on Lies

Building relationships they try. Like Palpatine and Anakin a path to darkness this is. Slowly trust they gain. Then the 'pig butchering scam,' they unleash. Your money they want. "It is slow; you feed the victim and slowly gain trust and move it forward," Grobman says. Patience these scammers have. But for evil they use it.

The Price of Loneliness High It Is

Loneliness a weapon they wield. The dark side of human connection this is. Malka Shaw a wise therapist speaks "We're living in a time where loneliness has reached epidemic levels." Vulnerable you become. Like a Jedi Knight without their lightsaber. Protect yourself you must.

Data Is Money Yes. But Beware The Mini Ransoms!

Your data valuable it is. Even small bits. Name phone number social media. Sold on the dark web they are. Locked out of your accounts you may be. Mini ransoms they demand. Like Jabba demanding payment from Han Solo. "We see people pay smaller amounts of money to gain access to their social media," Riberio says. Resist you must! Or pay you might.

Ignore You Must. Spam Report Always.

Ignore the texts you must. Mark as spam you will. Simple steps these are. Undesirable you become to scammers. Your messaging app alerted it is. Protect others you help. "And doing so makes me an undesirable target for the scammer and no follow up messages occur for the most part," Brewer says. Wise words these are. The Force is with you but caution you must take.