Protecting Your Account

Most of us have learned to be suspicious of a strange email with bad spelling, odd wording, or a poor-quality logo. For years, those little mistakes were helpful warning signs. But lately, some scam messages have become much harder to spot.

One reason is artificial intelligence (AI). AI is not “bad” by itself, and many people use it for normal tasks like organizing information. Unfortunately, criminals can use the same technology to make scams look cleaner, sound more natural, and reach more people.

That matters because a lot of personal information is already out there from past account break-ins and data compromises. Scammers can use those details to make fake messages feel more specific and convincing.

AI can help a scammer write a message that sounds like it came from a real company. It can clean up awkward grammar and make the message believable. The goal of this is to get you to click a link, scan a QR code, enter your password, or share a one-time security code.

The scam may look like a delivery notice, payment problem, password reset, bank alert, or message from a service you use. It may not look “fake” at first glance, and that is exactly the point. This doesn’t mean you need to fear AI or be suspicious of every message. It means “look for bad spelling” is no longer enough. Scammers still rely on urgency, fear, confusion, trust, and curiosity. AI helps those tricks look more polished.

The good news is you don’t have to be a technology expert to protect yourself. A few extra seconds of checking can prevent most of these scams from working.

These habits can help protect your personal accounts:

• Do not trust a message just because it is well written or looks professional.
• Go to the company’s website or app yourself instead of clicking unexpected links.
• Be careful with QR codes in emails, texts, or attachments.
• Use different passwords for important accounts, especially email, banking, shopping, and social media.
• Turn on multi-factor authentication when it is available.
• Never share a password, one-time security code, or verification code, even if someone asks for it.

AI is a useful tool, but it can be misused. The best response is to not panic; it is slowing down. If a message asks you to hurry, click, scan, pay, or sign in, stop and verify first by going directly to the official website or app. If a message claims to be from ITC and you are unsure whether it is legitimate, contact the ITC Help Desk at 1.888.217.5718 before clicking a link or sharing account information.