AI voice and video scams target Fresno, Coinbase security chief warns

Key Takeaways

ABC30 reported June 26 that AI tools are making scams more targeted and convincing.
Coinbase CISO Jeff Lunglhofer said criminals now spoof banks, relatives and employers.
Red flags include urgency, glitches in audio or video, and demands for odd payments.
Experts recommend hanging up, then calling the real number you already know.
Fresno County Sheriff warned this spring about impersonation calls that push crypto or Zelle.

"AI is really supercharging scams today," Coinbase Chief Information Security Officer Jeff Lunglhofer told KFSN in a Friday segment. He said criminals no longer spray the same pitch at everyone. They tailor it, sometimes with a face or voice that looks and sounds like someone you trust. He called it harder to spot and faster to run, which is the part that worries investigators.

What scammers are doing

Lunglhofer said the top plays now include fake pleas from a loved one who "needs money," and calls or video chats that look like they come from your bank. The pitch references your job or your family. Some come with a video box in the corner, a person who seems to be your banker and even knows your branch. The same story line has shown up here, too, as the Fresno County Sheriff's Office flagged a spring wave of calls from someone posing as a ranking deputy and pushing crypto or Zelle.

A small sign at a Blackstone Avenue checkout says "No gift cards for bill payment." It blends into the lottery display.

Red flags to watch for

The ABC30 piece lays out three tells. Urgency, like "right now" deadlines or threats. Glitches, where audio skips or the mouth in a video does not quite sync. Weird payment routes, like crypto, gift cards, or a wire to an unknown account. Fresno County's warning added a fourth practical tip, listen for names or roles that do not match a real local agency roster. Then slow it down. If you feel rushed, step back and verify with a number you already have, not one the caller provides.

And it happens fast.

What Central Valley residents can do

Start with a pause. Hang up, then call your bank, your credit union, or the person the caller claimed to be, using the number on your card or a known contact list. If someone claims to be law enforcement and asks for payment, Fresno County Sheriff's Office says that is not how the department operates. Report what happened to your local agency, and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. If you sent money, call your bank right away and ask for a freeze or recall.

Lunglhofer's last point in the KFSN piece was plain. "Never underestimate how far a scammer is willing to go or, frankly, how low they're willing to go to steal your hard-earned money."

Central Valley AI is produced by the CVAI Newsdesk team and developed by Kaweah Tech, a regional firm that builds, deploys, and integrates AI solutions for businesses across California's Central Valley.

Source

https://abc30.com/post/watching-wallet-how-ai-is-making-scams-more-sophisticated/19389567/