In a world where technology keeps us connected, informed, and entertained, it also creates new opportunities for scammers to sneak into our digital lives. From phishing emails to fake websites and AI-generated messages that seem eerily convincing, online scams have become smarter—and harder to spot. That’s why it’s time for our scam protection to get smarter too. 

According to Gen’s Q1 2025 Threat Report, data breaches have skyrocketed—up more than 186% just in the first three months of 2025. With sensitive information like emails, passwords, and credit card numbers flooding the dark web, scammers are using AI to launch hyper-targeted phishing attacks that are hard to detect with the naked eye. 

Scammers are using AI—and they’re winning 

The modern scammer isn’t sitting behind a keyboard typing out misspelled messages. They’re using AI to craft flawless emails, mimic trusted websites, and launch thousands of scams in seconds. These attacks aren’t just random anymore—they’re tailored to you. 

With data breaches on the rise and personal information often available on the dark web, scammers can create hyper-personalized messages that look and sound legitimate. Whether it’s a fake bank alert, a job offer, or a message from “tech support,” today’s scams are designed to trick even the savviest users. 

Traditional security tools can’t keep up 

Antivirus software and spam filters have long been the frontline defense against cyber threats. But many of them were built to detect known threats—things like dangerous files or blacklisted websites. The problem? AI-powered scams are evolving daily, and they don’t always rely on malware to do damage. 

A seemingly harmless email or a perfectly designed website can trick users into handing over personal info, login credentials, or even bank details. These aren’t viruses and that requires a smarter, more contextual defense system. 

AI is the best defense against AI scams 

The best way to fight fire is with fire. Just like scammers are using artificial intelligence to build better scams, AI can be used to detect and stop them—in real time. By analyzing patterns and language, AI-based tools can flag suspicious activity that humans might miss. 

AI can: 

• Read between the lines in suspicious messages 

• Analyze hidden web content to find scams  

• Analyze tone and context to sniff out scams 

• Learn from millions of previous scams to stay ahead of the next one 

Scammers are using AI—and they’re winning 

Recognizing the urgent need for accessible, intelligent scam protection, Avast has launched Scam Guardian—a powerful, AI-driven set of scam protection features, at no cost within Avast Free Antivirus. It acts like a digital bodyguard, scanning emails, websites, and messages to detect hidden detect threats that others might miss. Whether you're unsure about a shady link or an email that seems too good to be true, Avast Assistant is there to help. Ask Avast, and it will give you real-time guidance if you think you’re being scammed. Scam Guardian also includes Web Guard, our AI-driven online security feature that analyzes the content in the sites you visit, looking for hidden scams. If you want even more protection, Scam Guardian Pro adds advanced email scanning to keep your inbox safe across all your devices. Best of all, this world-class AI security isn’t just for the tech-savvy—it’s for everyone, everywhere.