Toronto police are warning that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to make fraud attempts more targeted and believable. Investigators say AI is helping criminals gather personal information quickly, tailor their messages, and impersonate trusted institutions with greater credibility.

Toronto police are warning that a growing number of fraud attempts are now being enhanced by artificial intelligence, making scams more personalized and harder for victims to detect.

Speaking during Fraud Prevention Month, Det. David Coffey of the Toronto Police Service’s financial crimes unit said criminals are using AI tools to collect and organize personal information at greater speed, then use that information to make scams appear more credible. According to police, fraudsters are increasingly able to impersonate trusted people and institutions, including banks, government agencies, and even police.

Investigators say the underlying scam tactics may be familiar, but the way they are being delivered is changing. By scanning social media and online profiles, criminals can build highly tailored approaches that use a person’s name, location, and other details to create a false sense of legitimacy. Police say that personal information is now being used against victims in ways that can make scam attempts feel far more convincing than traditional mass fraud messages.

Toronto police also pointed to the growing financial impact of these schemes. Reported losses from confidence scams in Toronto, where fraudsters gain a victim’s trust before stealing money or assets, approached $50 million last year.

Experts say AI is increasing the scale of the problem as well. Because many scam attempts can now be automated, fraudsters can send large volumes of highly personalized messages with very little effort. That combination of speed, personalization, and automation is making more people vulnerable.

Police and technology experts say the public should pay close attention to urgency, pressure, and emotional manipulation in calls, texts, and emails. If a message seems unusually personal or alarming, they recommend slowing down, verifying the request independently, and avoiding immediate action based on panic.

Experts also suggest using safeguards such as family safe words, limiting the amount of personal information shared online, and being cautious about what data is provided when signing up for digital platforms. While the tactics may be evolving, authorities say awareness and verification remain some of the strongest defences against fraud.

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Originally published on Canadian Fraud News.