Preventing Online ID Theft & Fraud – Take Charge of Your Online Identity

From AI Scams to Deepfakes: How to Prevent Identity Theft 

AI is radically reshaping online fraud and ID theft. What used to require technical skills can now be done by almost anyone using off-the-shelf AI tools and unfortunately, cybercriminals are leveraging this new tech to launch large-scale, sophisticated cyberattacks on unsuspecting individuals. 

In 2023, AI-generated fraud surged 10x worldwide. In North America deepfake fraud increased by an astonishing 1,740%. 

“AI is making it super easy for cybercriminals to scale their operations. With just a few data points, scammers can now automate phishing messages, generate convincing fake emails and create personalized voice and video content, and deepfakes tailored to your job, hobbies or relationships,” Brooks explains. “These scams feel hyper-realistic and frighteningly personal and urgent.” 

AI is rewriting the rules of ID theft and digital impersonation. Fraudsters no longer need your passwords to exploit your identity. Just 3 seconds of your voice or a short video of your face is all it takes to create a realistic voice clone scam or real-time deepfake video call to try and scam your loved ones or colleagues out of money.   

Considering over half of adults say they share their voice data online at least 10x a week and just as many say they’d respond to a message from a friend or loved one requesting money urgently – it’s easier than ever for cyber scammers to steal your identity and use it in a successful attack. 

A recent McAfee survey revealed that one in 10 people have already received an AI-generated voice clone and 77% of them lost money in the scam. 

What’s worse: over a third lost between $500 and $3,000, while 7% lost between $5,000 and $15,000.  

Older people are especially vulnerable to ID theft and online scams including romance, grandparent and impersonation scams. The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) says Americans over 60 lost $3.4 billion to fraud in 2023 – on average each lost $34,000. 

But younger generations aren’t immune. Studies show they report higher rates of victimization in phishing, identity theft, romance scams, extortion and cyberbullying as they tend to share more personal information online. 

AI-driven identity scams threaten more than your bank account. They’ve become dangerous. These tactics are used to manipulate reputations, relationships and emotions – resulting in emotional trauma – like an Arizona mother who received a call from her 15-year-old “kidnapped daughter”. The voice was AI-generated but terrifyingly real. 

“AI can make anyone look and sound like you. You don’t need to be hacked for your online identity to be misused,” warns Brooks. 

Your digital footprint is fuel for these scams, Jardine adds. “Everything you share online – photos, social media posts, videos, voice notes – can be stolen and reused to impersonate you or create fake IDs in your name.” 

“Cybercrime impacts your identity and dignity,” says Christyn Yoast, President, USA at BOXX Insurance. “That’s why protecting your digital identity is no longer optional – it’s urgent.”

That’s also why BOXX has designed its personal cyber insurance product to combine broad coverage with all-in-one protection, 24/7 support and real-time monitoring to help individuals and families predict, prevent, insure and recover from cyber threats and protect their digital lives. 

Smart Habits to Prevent Online Identity Theft 

You don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to stay safe online. But you do need to be cautious and proactive. Here are our top tips: 

Be politely skeptical 

Don’t assume every email, text or call is legitimate — even if it looks familiar. Always double-check the sender’s full email address, hover over links before clicking and manually type out website URLs instead of clicking on requests or links. 

Academic research shows 66% of people failed to identify AI audio scams and 43% failed to detect AI videos. 

“If someone is pressuring you for money or tells you not to hang up? It’s almost certainly a scam. Today, you can’t assume it’s your loved one’s voice or face on the call. Politely end the call and call the person you know directly.” 

Use a family codeword 

• Create a family passphrase — a simple shared phrase that only close relatives know. 
• With 74% of parents concerned about online safety and 88% of households using connected devices daily, this one small habit can make a big difference. 
• “Deepfakes can fake a voice or face, but they can’t fake a memory,” Jardine says. “A simple shared phrase can stop an impersonation scam in its tracks. Agree on a code word only your close family members know and never share it online.”

Monitor your financial & digital footprint 

• Set up transaction alerts with your bank. Use credit and ID theft monitoring tools like Equifax, which is also offered in every Cyberboxx® Home policy to detect fraudulent activity early and prevent ID theft.
• Regularly Google yourself to see what personal information might be publicly accessible and review privacy settings on social media to protect your identity.
• Whether you’re securing your data, monitoring to prevent identity theft or responding to a breach, Cyberboxx® Home keeps you a step ahead of threats.

Invest in endpoint protection & password managers 

• Choose a trusted, paid endpoint protection system that scans for phishing attempts, ransomware and malicious software in real time. “You get what you pay for,” warns Brooks. “Invest in protection that actually works.”
• Use a password manager like 1Password to help avoid reusing weak or compromised passwords. Create complex passphrases instead of simple passwords – check out our helpful guide to password do’s and don’ts. 
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security to protect the digital ID of your accounts.  

 Protect the vulnerable from ID theft with personal cyber insurance 

• Learn to protect seniors and children from the growing threat of identity-based fraud, cyber extortion and online blackmail scams.
• BOXX’s policies and services can be extended to family members, giving your entire household access to comprehensive protection and expert support. 
• “Personal cyber protection isn’t just for you,” Yoast says. “It’s a powerful gift for your parents and protection for your kids.”

If it happens to you: act fast to prevent ID theft 

AI and online identity theft scams move fast. But so can you.  

If you think something’s wrong: 

• Change your passwords immediately 
• Reauthenticate your MFA settings 
• Scan your device for malware  
• Check your credit report for unusual activity 
• Set up online ID monitoring

Contact the Hackbusters®  — day or night. 

Think of Hackbusters® as your 24/7 breach response team, ready to step in at the first sign of trouble. From suspicious links to full-scale identity theft, our experts are on standby to contain the threat, guide you step-by-step through recovery and help prevent long-term ID theft damage – so you’re never alone when it matters most.  

“In fact, 80% of the incidents we help mitigate never become claims because we stop them early,” Jardine explains. 

How All-in-One Cyber Protection Helps You and Your Family 

The average cost of a personal cyber incident ranges between $7,000 and $25,000.  

BOXX covers you and your family for a wide range of risks including identity theft, cyber extortion, financial fraud, extortion, ransomware, cyberbullying, legal fees and data forensics. 

“We believe prevention is always better than loss,” Jardine says.  

With the Cyberboxx® Assist solution you’ll get: 

• Expert-led security assessments to identify weak points in your home network. 
• Identity and Hacker Chatter monitoring so you get alerted if your personal data appears on the dark web. 
• Access to digital safety training and tools for the whole family. 
• 24/7 incident response to contain cyber incidents fast. 
• Personalized guidance to boost your home’s digital security. 

Own Your Digital Identity and Assets to Prevent ID Theft 

Online identity theft is surging — and AI is making it easier than ever for criminals to steal your money, voice, face, relationships and reputation. The time to act is now. 

Stay informed and vigilant, talk to your family about online threats, lock down your digital footprint and monitor your online identity. 

Most importantly: know that you don’t have to face it alone.  

BOXX offers comprehensive protection and expert support services to help you take charge of your digital identity and protect what matters most. 

“You don’t need to feel vulnerable in our interconnected, AI-powered world,” Brooks says. “You can’t stop every scam, but you can stop being an easy target. BOXX is here to help.”