Phishing in the world of AI: New-age phishing [Examples + Prevention tips]

Ever noticed how your phone’s autocorrect gets smarter over time? How it learns your writing style, your common phrases, your patterns?

Now imagine that same learning ability in the hands of someone trying to trick you into clicking a malicious link. 

That’s what AI-powered phishing looks like – scams that learn, adapt, and perfect their approach.

But don’t worry – this isn’t another doom-and-gloom warning about AI. 

Instead, let’s look at what these attacks really look like and how you can spot them before they spot you. 

Here are the nuts and bolts first.

What is AI Phishing?

Phishing attacks have been around since the 1990s, and they have become much more advanced over time. At first, hackers sent out lots of emails that had spelling mistakes, incorrect sentences, and suspicious links. 

The methods changed as people became more aware of hacking.

Fast forward to now, AI has pushed phishing to new heights. When a message pops up in your inbox, it might not be what it seems—even if it looks genuine. 

So what makes these attacks different? They’re smart about it. See the examples below.

Examples of AI Phishing

The stakes are much higher now, as shown by recent incidents.

In February 2024, a finance worker at a multinational firm lost $25 million after a video call with what looked and sounded exactly like their chief financial officer – but it was an AI deepfake. 

Similarly, in 2019, an energy company in the UK lost $243,000 when fraudsters used AI to clone their CEO’s voice—complete with his distinctive German accent. One phone call with the perfect voice match was all it took to bypass standard security checks and convince an employee to transfer funds.

How AI Makes Phishing More Dangerous

AI has turned phishing attacks into masters of disguise, creating scams so convincing that they can fool even the most careful people. These aren’t just better versions of old tricks; they’re entirely new threats that know how to think, learn, and adapt.

Think about the last time you got a suspicious email. Maybe you spotted it because of odd grammar or an out-of-place request. 

Well, those obvious signs are fading fast. Modern AI writes messages that sound natural because it actually understands language patterns. 

So when you get that email from your “manager” asking about yesterday’s meeting, everything feels right – the tone, the details, even those specific project references.

While traditional phishing hoped someone would fall for generic tricks, AI analyzes communication patterns and creates messages that feel authentic. It picks up on little details – the way people write, what they talk about, when they usually send messages.

Making things worse, even purpose-built AI wrappers are also out there in the market for undertaking frauds.

Types of New AI Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks have evolved far beyond simple email scams. AI now enables attackers to create multi-layered deceptions that feel remarkably real. Here are the most common types you might encounter:

1. Deep Fake Video Calls

Video calls have become our standard way of communicating with leadership. Attackers exploit this trust by using deepfake technology to impersonate executives or managers. 

During these calls, the fake executive might request urgent wire transfers or sensitive information. 

The attack works especially well because video adds a personal element – when you see a familiar face making the request, standard verification procedures often get overlooked. 

These deepfakes can even fake biometric verification in some cases.

Still, there’s a simple fix: set up a quick verification system through a different channel. Even a simple text message to confirm with the real person can stop these attacks cold.

2. Voice Scams

Phone calls remain a powerful tool for scammers, but AI voice cloning has made them much more dangerous. Instead of obvious fake accents or scripted conversations, attackers now use perfect voice replicas of people you trust. 

These calls often create artificial urgency around financial requests. The emotional manipulation becomes more effective because the voice sounds exactly like someone you know.

But, honestly, real emergencies rarely prevent a quick callback to a known number. 

When in doubt, hang up and verify through official channels.

3. Smart Email Attacks

Modern phishing emails understand the context. AI analyzes your professional activities, recent events, and work patterns to craft messages that blend perfectly into your daily communications. 

An attack might reference your actual project timelines, use company-specific terminology, and arrive exactly when you expect legitimate communication. 

The best defense? A quick message through a different channel to confirm unusual requests, even when everything looks perfect.

4. Cross-Platform Attacks

Rather than relying on a single point of contact, AI phishing campaigns build credibility across multiple platforms. An attack might start with a legitimate-looking LinkedIn connection, follow up via email, and culminate in a messaging app conversation. 

Each interaction builds on the previous one, creating a convincing trail of communication that feels natural and trustworthy. 

5. Business Process Attacks

These attacks target specific business operations, particularly in finance and procurement. AI helps create entire chains of fake but convincing business communications. 

An attacker might impersonate a known vendor, complete with accurate pricing, purchase order numbers, and project details. The level of accuracy in these attacks often bypasses standard verification processes. 

Of course, this makes double-checking through established channels important – especially for anything involving money or sensitive data.

How to Protect Your Business from AI Phishing? Prevention Tips

While AI makes phishing more dangerous, preventing it comes down to practical steps that make sense for real business situations. 

For now, we’ve compiled these eight prevention tips you can use in day-to-day operations to prevent AI phishing:

1. Two-Step Money Moves: Any financial request needs verification through two different methods. If someone asks for a wire transfer by email, confirm it by phone at their official number. Simple but effective.
2. Team Code Words: Create monthly verification phrases for your teams. When someone makes an unusual request, ask for the phrase. AI might copy voices or faces, but it won’t know these internal codes.
3. Slow Down Big Changes: Set mandatory waiting periods for significant changes like updating vendor payment details or large transfers. A 4-hour delay won’t hurt legitimate business but gives time to catch scams.
4. Clear Emergency Steps: Create a simple list of who to contact when something seems off. Post it where everyone can see it. When in doubt, people should know exactly who to ask.
5. Verified Communication Channels: Keep sensitive business discussions on approved platforms only. If someone tries to move the conversation to a different app, that’s a red flag.
6. Strict Process Rules: Never change established procedures because someone claims it’s “urgent.” Real emergencies can follow proper channels.

Most importantly (we’re keeping it out of the list for a reason), use reliable verification systems to validate new business partners and customers. 

This extra step helps confirm you’re dealing with legitimate entities, not sophisticated impersonators.

Speaking of identity verification, this is where Signzy can help. Our KYC, KYB, and identity verification APIs add that extra layer of validation when onboarding new customers or partners, helping protect your business from sophisticated impersonation attempts.