Scam cases have risen globally, especially with the increasing reliance on digital platforms. Deepfake scam cases have also increasingly become a significant concern. At CES 2025, McAfee, a cybersecurity firm, launched an AI-powered McAfee Scam Detector to help users detect text, video, and email scams.
McAfee Scam Detector will be available for free to all McAfee customers. This technology uses the newest AI technology to check messages in real time and let you know if they might be unsafe. For example, if you get a text that says, “Hi, how are you?” from someone you don’t know, it could be a scam. If you receive an urgent email about a delivery that didn’t happen, it might not be real. And if you hear about a special investment opportunity from someone pretending to be Elon Musk, it’s likely a fake!
McAfee makes it easy for you to know what is real and what is not in just a few seconds. A study by McAfee Labs found that scammers can use deepfake tools to create realistic fake videos or voices for just $5 in about 10 minutes – which is cheaper than buying a coffee!
“Scammers are getting smarter every day, using technology like artificial intelligence to make their tricks more convincing and harder to spot,” said Steve Grobman, Chief Technology Officer, McAfee. “They play on people’s emotions – like fear, urgency, or trust – to get what they want. That’s why we created McAfee Scam Detector, powered by AI. It warns you about scams before they can cause harm, helps you stay in control of your personal information, and helps you build the skills needed to outsmart scammers for good.”
How McAfee’s AI-Powered Scam Detector Works
McAfee’s Scam Detector uses Smart AITM technology. Here’s how it protects you from scams in emails, text messages, and videos: –
Email Scam Detector: It checks your inbox for suspicious emails and warns you about risky messages before you open them. It also tells you why a message might be dangerous.
Text Scam Detector: It finds fake texts that trick people into giving money or clicking on bad links. It flags risky texts before you see them and explains why they are dangerous.
Deepfake Detector: It helps you identify AI-made videos, warning you if what you are watching isn’t real. If someone pretends to be your boss or a celebrity, McAfee will help you spot the fake. They are also working to make this technology available in more languages, like French, German, and Japanese.
How to Setup
Setting it up is simple: For email, just link your Gmail or Outlook account.
Turn on the Scam Detector in the McAfee app on your phone for texts and videos. There’s no need to download anything extra or upload files each time to check. Once it’s set up, McAfee Scam Detector works by itself to find scams in texts, emails, and videos.
Learning to Spot Scams Besides just warning you about suspicious content, McAfee’s Scam Detector helps you understand why something is a scam. This way, you can learn the tricks that scammers use.
Simple Notifications: You will get alerts in a way that doesn’t bother you, whether on your phone, email, or video platform. This ensures that you know what’s suspicious and why.
Free for McAfee Customers: Soon, the McAfee Scam Detector will be part of all McAfee+, McAfee Total Protection, and McAfee LiveSafe plans at no extra charge.
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