AI could lead to scams in 2026

Happy 2026.

Whether you embrace new year resolutions or scorn them, experts recommend resolving to take some security steps as artificial intelligence-powered scams and other technology pose ever-greater risks.

“As the digital landscape continues its rapid evolution, 2026 is poised to be a critical year for data privacy, cybersecurity and the fight against identity theft, fraud and scams,” the Identity Theft Resource Center says.

The center, which recently released its predictions for the new year, warns of more “hyper-personalized identity theft” waged by AI. These types of attacks are tailored to a particular victim, using personal information gleaned from data breaches or social media accounts to make them appear more legitimate.

Such information can be used “to craft convincing narratives” that lure people into divulging personal data or transferring funds to scammers, the center says.

It also predicts a rise in fake IDs, voice samples and “live” videos that criminals create by using AI tools to fool verification systems.

These so-called synthetic identities can be used to open accounts and apply for jobs in someone’s name, thereby committing “large-scale fraud,” the center says.

Voice snippets gleaned from online videos or a personalized phone greeting can be used, for example, to impersonate a boss telling an employee to authorize wire transfers or change invoices, according to the U.S. Cybersecurity Institute, an information security company.

Also, scammers can buy online search ads that appear above the legitimate retailer or bank, aiming to lure people to a fake website.

With this kind of landscape facing us this year, here are some resolutions to consider adopting for protection:

• Upload your ID only through official apps and websites that you type in yourself.

•  Consider credit freezes and account alerts that notify when a suspicious activity takes place.

•  Skip ad results in an online search. Instead rely on bookmarks or type addresses directly.

•  Confirm strange requests by using another means of communication.

•  Do not respond to any message that has an air of urgency or demands secrecy.

•  Limit how much personal information is available online that could be used against you.

Cyber tax a cause for inflation

An under-the-radar cause of today’s inflation is a hidden “cyber tax” that hits small businesses and consumers, ITRC says.

More than 80% of small businesses it surveyed reported a security or data breach during the past year, with more than half reporting losses between $250,000 and $1 million.

“For a small business, such a loss can be catastrophic,” the resource center says. “... Small businesses (the vast majority of U.S. businesses) are under a relentless and evolving digital siege. The economic consequences of these attacks are now rippling through the marketplace in the form of direct price increases for consumers.”

Contact Ellen Marks at emarks@abqjournal.com if you are aware of what sounds like a scam. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division at 505-490-4060. Complaints can be filed electronically at nmag.gov/contact-us/file-a-complaint/.