Wealth Planning Insights
Staying Safe from AI Scams
Tina Yang, CFP®, February 2026
One of the fastest-growing risks today is fraud made more convincing by artificial intelligence, or AI.
Obviously, scams are nothing new. What IS new is how real they can feel. Technology now allows scammers to sound polished, personal, and even familiar. Messages that look like they came from a bank, phone calls that sound like a family member, or even missed-delivery text messages seem harmless at first glance.
The good news is you don’t need to deeply understand the technology to protect yourself.
Almost every scam we see has one thing in common…pressure. The message might say your account or PC is at risk, a loved one is in trouble, or something needs to be handled immediately.
If you ever feel pushed to act quickly, that’s your sign to stop. Take a moment to slow down and contact a trusted family member or reach out to us so we can help you think it through.
One of the more unsettling changes we are seeing is just how convincing messages can be. AI can now mimic writing styles and even voices, which means a call may sound exactly like a relative who seems to be in trouble. In those instances, hang up and call them back using the number already saved in your phone.
It can also help to put a few simple safeguards in place ahead of time. With how quickly technology has evolved over the last decade, there are now many ways to stay connected with friends and family. Location-tracking features like Apple’s Find My or apps such as Life360 allow you to see real-time locations and check in for added peace of mind.
Another helpful strategy is to create a simple family “safety word,” something only your family knows to use if a situation ever feels urgent or unusual. Most importantly, have these conversations ahead of time. As AI continues to develop, staying connected and prepared as a family makes a real difference.
Strong passwords are one of the easiest ways to protect your accounts, but we know they can be a pain to remember. That’s where password managers can help. A password manager securely stores your passwords and can create strong, unique ones for each account, so you don’t have to remember them all or reuse the same password everywhere.
You can use built-in options from Apple or Google, or third-party apps like Dashlane or 1Password. Each has its pros and cons, but the most important thing is choosing one and consistently using it to create unique passwords for every account.
When used alongside two-factor authentication, password managers add an extra layer of protection and reduce the stress of keeping track of logins.
Another login method you may start hearing more about is something called passkeys. Passkeys are designed to replace traditional passwords altogether. Instead of creating a password that a website has to store and protect, your device (like your phone or computer) creates a unique, highly secure digital key that never leaves your device. When you log in, you simply confirm with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device PIN, and the key securely verifies it’s really you. Because there’s no password to type, steal, reuse or store, passkeys are more resistant to phishing scams and data breaches. They can feel unfamiliar at first and aren’t available on every website yet, but when offered, they offer a greater level of login protection and security.
If you ever receive a message or call that raises questions, please reach out. Protecting your financial security means protecting you, and we take that responsibility seriously.