Fraud, Scams, & AI Detection Resources

Below are resources on scams, fraud, AI detection, and related items. This is not advice and should be used as a resource.

If you believe you are a victim of a scam(s):

Immediately secure your financial accounts, change your passwords, and report the fraud.
1. Freeze any cards or financial accounts
2. Call your bank or credit union directly
3. Report any unauthorized transactions
Report the fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
1. For identity theft, visit IdentityTheft.gov
Contact Law Enforcement
1. Local police or the state attorney general’s office
  1. Oregon Attorney General Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392

Elder Care Resources

If the victim is an older person or a person with a disability, contact your local adult protective services agency. You can find your state or local agency that receives and investigates reports of suspected elder financial exploitation by using the online Eldercare Locator or calling (800) 677-1116.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of elder fraud, help is standing by at the National Elder Fraud Hotline. Call 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–831, Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. eastern time

Hotlines and links to scam prevention

National Elder Fraud Hotline: Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.– 6:00 p.m. ET 833–FRAUD–11 or 833–372–831
Eldercare helpline: (800) 677-1116
Oregon Attorney General Consumer Hotline: 1-877-877-9392
FTC Fraud Reporting Fraud Resource
Identity Theft Resource
Department of Justice Scams Resource
Common Scams Resource

Report Medicaid providers/suppliers:

By Email: Medicaid.Fraud.Referral@doj.oregon.gov
By Mail: Oregon DOJ – MFCU, 100 SW Market Street, Portland, OR 97201

AI Scams

Fraud and scams are increasingly using artificial intelligence to deceive people. AI can be used to voice clone, make deep fake videos, and write phishing emails.

Some examples, but not all, of AI scams:

Grandparent Scam: Common scams involve impersonating your loved ones' voices and even mannerisms. Always beware of a caller who insists on secrecy, and confirm their story with someone else.
Charity Scams: A charity scam uses AI to create realistic-looking images and videos that aim to convince you of the group in need. It is meant to play on your emotions. Ask for detailed information about the charity, including address and phone number. Look up the charity through a trusted third-party source to confirm that the charity is real.

AI Detection

AI pictures and videos are only becoming more realistic and convincing. It is difficult to identify these videos and pictures.

To detect AI content, look for, but not limited to:

Visual distortions and warping in images and video, such as unsettling silences and distorted decibels.
- Audio deepfakes generate delays and unnatural pauses in the process of converting the text to audio or manipulating the audio. Additionally, choppy sentences, unusual inflections, abnormal phrasing, or incongruent background noise could help spot their synthetic origins. AI-driven deepfake facial profile images can look distorted, blurred, or unsettling.
Video inconsistencies or unnatural movement.
- Video deepfakes often have subtle inconsistencies or unnatural movements which do not match their subjects’ speech or facial features;
- denote a subject’s blinking, either too much or too little;
- having eyebrows that do not fit their face;
- hair in the wrong spots;
- skin that does not match their age or abnormal skin colors;
- and awkward head and body positioning.
Poor video, lighting, and audio quality.
- Video deepfakes tend to have unnatural shadows, colors, and lighting patterns.
- Deepfakes often use synthetic audio that can sound unnatural or inconsistent, such as background noise or voice pitch; listen closely to the audio to determine if it sounds authentic.

Robo Calls

Robo calls are prerecorded messages; they often involve scams such as prizes, fake government calls, or even just requests for payment. These scams often use requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency.

If you are confused by the call, stay silent, let the scammer reveal themselves. Scammers can spoofed local numbers to lower your suspicions. They will be urgently requesting information or ‘help’. Hang up if a call feels suspicious.

Beware of callers trying to rush you to get your information, even if the person says that they are a government official. Government officials use mail to contact citizens; it is highly unlikely the government will call. Urgent requests should always be heavily scrutinized.

Medicare and Medicaid Fraud

Providers are not held liable for overpayments for claims paid that are a result of identity theft. Scammers will often pose as Medicare and Medicaid agents. The scammers will ask for personal information to update records. Be suspicious of agents who call unwarranted. Always call the official phone number to get third party confirmation.

Always review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or Explanation of Benefits (EOB), look for services that weren’t received, and be suspicious of free, unsolicited medical tests or equipment.

Do you think your identity has been stolen?

1. Contact your Unified Program Integrity Contractor (UPIC). The UPIC is the CMS fraud contractor that handles investigations on behalf of Medicare.

Find your UPIC.
Inform them about any suspicious activity you’ve noticed, such as beneficiaries indicating that your information is on their Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) without receiving treatment, or if you’ve received a demand letter from the MAC stating you are responsible for overpayments you never received.
Find your MAC.
Inquire about any recent changes to your Medicare enrollment, if any, and verify if you made those changes.

2. Respond to any inquiry from the UPIC. Part of their investigation is to interview the provider. Once you’ve verified their credentials, complete the interview as requested.

3. Report any suspected ID theft to the police.

Report Medicaid providers/suppliers:

By Phone: 971.673.1880
By Email: Medicaid.Fraud.Referral@doj.oregon.gov
By Mail: Oregon DOJ – MFCU, 100 SW Market Street, Portland, OR 97201

Credit Card Scams

Credit card fraud can be combatted by regularly monitoring statements for unauthorized transactions, checking credit reports for unfamiliar accounts, and watching for phishing attempts.

Any red flags, such as, but not limited to:

Unexpected and urgent phone calls, texts, or emails asking for personal information, Social Security numbers, or card details.
Small charges known as card testing or rigged ATM/ gas pump card readers
Requests to pay via gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or peer-to-peer apps

Always contact your bank to confirm before answering any questions if you are suspicious.

Internet Scams

Internet scams are quickly becoming popular with scammers.

Below are a few examples of internet scams, but they do not encompass all internet scams. To find a full list of examples, visit FBI Common Scams Resource.

Common internet scams include romance scams, where a person you met online professes love and asks for money for emergencies.
Tech support scams commonly involve an unexpected email or text claiming your account has been compromised or have failed to pay fees.
Investment scams include promises of guaranteed high returns or investments. There are no guarantees on investments.

Beware of people trying to convince you that you need to do something as in give them money or information, even if it is on behalf of your loved ones. These scams usually have spelling and grammar errors in the texts, but there are exceptions. They will avoid meeting in person. Always be wary of unexpected emails or texts.