AI and scam calls: how to recognize them and stay safe

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AI is now also a tool for scammers

Phone scams aren't new, but AI has made them more convincing. Voice cloning, naturally conversing bots, and automated mass calling all make scams sound genuine. The caller might pose as a bank, an authority, or even a familiar voice. The goal is always the same: get the victim to act quickly and without thinking.

How to protect yourself

A few principles are enough to protect you from most scam attempts:

• Never give out bank credentials, PINs, or one-time passwords over the phone. A bank or authority will never ask for these when calling you.
• If the caller rushes you or pressures you to decide immediately, that's a warning sign. A genuine matter can wait.
• Hang up and call back yourself using an official number if something feels off. Don't use a number the caller gave you.
• Verify a suspicious request through another channel, such as your bank's app or the authority's website.

Puhebotti never hides that it's AI

Scams rely on the caller pretending to be something they're not. Puhebotti works the opposite way: it always tells the caller right at the start of the call that it's an AI assistant and that the call is recorded. The customer always knows who they're talking to. Puhebotti also never asks for bank credentials, passwords, or card details, because it has no use for them.

Same technology, good purpose

AI isn't inherently good or bad. What matters is how it's used. In customer service, the same technology shortens wait times, answers calls around the clock, and makes sure no customer is left waiting during busy periods. For example, a smart answering service for business calls works exactly this way: transparently and always under human oversight. A human always decides on next steps. AI only handles the part that can be done quickly and reliably.