Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing almost everything about the online world, including how scams work. For teens and young adults who spend much of their time on TikTok, Instagram, Discord, Snapchat and gaming platforms, the risks are rising fast. For caregivers trying to guide them, it can feel like the scams are "growing up" faster than their kids.
At the same time, there’s reason for hope. Teens and young adults are learning, adapting and building skills every day. They’re growing up online in a world where the line between real and fake isn’t always clear, but with the right tools and support, they can learn to pause, question and verify what they’re seeing. Those skills matter, especially as social media moves fast, and AI powered scams increasingly play on trust, authority or the pressure to fit in.
This guide breaks down what families need to know, how to spot common AI scams and where to turn for support, so young people can build confidence, caregivers can feel less alone and everyone can navigate the digital world a little more safely.
AI has made scams faster, more realistic and much harder to detect. According to a recent study published by Common Sense Media, about 38% of teens aged 13 to 18 reported being deceived by fake content online. A larger 41% reported they had encountered content that was real, yet misleading, and 22% said they had shared information that turned out to be fake. A separate Bitwarden survey found that Gen Z households reported the highest levels of malware (44%), phishing (40%) and unintentional data sharing (36%).
Scammers follow the spotlight, and AI gives them a bigger stage. Tools that rapidly and realistically generate messages can make it tough for anyone, especially teens, to spot the difference. Scammers can now:
Teens and young adults are especially vulnerable. They’re confident online, but they’re also exploring their independence, and scammers know it. It’s not that parents and caregivers don’t care. Many of us just don’t know how to talk about AI-driven fraud yet, or what to look out for, so many families feel unprepared to navigate these new digital threats, even when they want to help.
Knowing how to use TikTok or Discord isn’t the same as knowing when a “friend” online is actually a chatbot or when a panicked phone call is really a cloned voice generated by AI. Caregivers often assume teens “already know this stuff,” while teens assume their families won’t understand how the apps they use work. That leaves a wide gap where scammers tend to strike. Here are a few ways to guide the young people in your life in preventing AI fraud:
Many parents may understand how the internet works, but their kids are growing up in a world where technology can manufacture trust. Helping young people learn to pause and question, and take a closer look at details, may be one of the most powerful skills we can give them.
The goal isn’t to watch every click. It’s to help young people build the judgement they need to navigate the online world with confidence. Caregivers can set healthy guardrails, but teens also need the space to learn what red flags look like. Encouraging them to pause before sharing, verify before trusting and speaking up when something feels off builds habits that last far longer than any app or filter.
Even careful people run into unexpected situations—that’s part of navigating today’s digital world. The important thing is to trust yourself, pause when something feels off and report any suspicious activity on your Credit Human accounts through our security center. If you’re looking ahead and want help setting financial health goals that support your life and values, our Financial Health Centers are here as a resource.