AI steals jobs from hard working hackers

3 days ago
2 min read

Some of you may have heard about YouTubers fighting back against overseas scam call centers by sending them glitter bombs, stink bombs or reverse hacking their computers. If you haven't, they're hugely entertaining - just search for "glitter bomb payback."

Unfortunately though, the days of having a target to strike at could be numbered - those call centers are now being replaced with... you guessed it... AI! Apparently AI is not just coming for our jobs, it's coming for scammer jobs too.

So how does this work?

The scam starts with a fake security email that tries to scare you into thinking something is wrong with one of your accounts - email, Amazon, bank, etc. The email will instruct you to call a phone number for help.

When you do, a calm, convincing and "helpful" AI voice agent will answer and walk you through giving it your password and two-factor code. That info is instantly sent over to a human criminal who then breaks into your account and turns your life upside down.

The Takeaway

Here are my top 5 tips for what you can do to keep this from happening to you:

Don't trust a phone number in an email. If an email says there's a problem with your account and tells you to call a number, don't use that number! Go to the company’s real website or app and find support there yourself.
Treat verification codes like passwords. If someone on the phone asks for your login code, recovery code, or multi-factor authentication code, stop right there. Real companies shouldn't need you to hand that over to “prove” who you are in a surprise support call.
Slow down when the message feels urgent. Scammers love panic because panic makes people move fast. If an email or phone call is trying to rush you, that's your sign to slow down and double-check everything.
Use a second way to verify. If you think the warning might be real, check your account by logging in directly from a browser or app you trust. You can also contact your IT team, provider, or a family member before doing anything.
Tell others what to watch for. These scams are easier to stop when more people can recognize their patterns. A quick warning to coworkers, friends or family can keep somebody else from getting pressured into giving up their access.

The bigger lesson here is not just “watch out for this one scam.” It's learning how to pause, verify, and think before reacting, because that habit protects not only you, but your family, your workplace and our community.

Stay safe out there.

-Attila