New York State ITS provides a consumer-friendly overview of how AI scams operate, with a focus on impersonation. It highlights common manipulation patterns—especially urgency and pressure—and encourages people to stop responding when warning signs appear.

New York State’s Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) published guidance aimed at helping the public understand AI scams and recognize the tactics fraudsters use. The guidance explains that scammers increasingly rely on AI-generated content to impersonate real people and organizations, often combining realistic language with high-pressure interaction to reduce a victim’s time for verification. The page emphasizes scam flow red flags rather than just technology terms. It describes how attackers may begin with messages that mimic familiar voices or personas, then escalate by creating urgency, steering the victim toward a call-to-action, and leveraging persuasive conversation to bypass skepticism. It also notes that AI-powered impersonation can show up across common channels such as social media and messaging platforms. The recommended defense is straightforward: treat unexpected or suspicious interactions as untrusted until independently confirmed, avoid clicking links or sharing sensitive information, and disengage when the pattern includes pressure, impersonation, or unclear requests for action. By translating the mechanics of AI-enabled fraud into observable behaviors, the ITS page helps everyday readers apply practical checks during real-world encounters. Overall, it serves as a useful safety explainer for people who may not follow cybersecurity news.