Fraudsters are now using the same tools as the most innovative companies: text generators, speech clones, deep-fake videos and algorithms that can imitate writing styles. A signed e-mail from your bank, a phone call from your son abroad, a video conversation with a colleague ... Everything can be imitated perfectly. AI is quietly making our beacons of trust disappear.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Just like real life"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Artificial intelligence not only creates images, but also makes them appear believable. It reconstructs faces, voices and conversations, and personalises messages based on your publications, your tastes and your environment. Using a simple post on LinkedIn about your company, scammers can already plot out a perfect scenario to fool you.
Therein lies precisely the danger: the attack always looks credible. The message appears to come from someone you know, adopting a familiar tone and asking a logical-sounding question. The human being, who naturally trusts what seems real, becomes the first security leak.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Sharpen your mind"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"The best way to guard against this new generation of scammers is to be extra vigilant. Installing a virus scanner is no longer enough; you must train your mind to be healthily suspicious. Before you believe, forward, sign or share anything, ask yourself 3 questions:
- Who is talking to me?
Have I verified the identity through an independent channel?
- Why now?
Is it urgent? Pressure, emotion?
- What risk am I running?
If this message was false, what would be the consequence?
Asking yourself these simple questions will help you ward off most attacks, even those backed by AI.
"}},{"componentType":"highlight","richBody":{"value":"This increased vigilance should still be accompanied by the following good practices:
- Activate two-factor authentication on all your sensitive accounts (emails, messaging, storage).
- Protect your devices: automatic updates, active virus scanner, unique passwords via a manager.
- Don't share too much information on social media: fraudsters use it to devise their scenarios.
- Distrust too perfect content: a perfect video or too smooth tone may hide a deepfake.
- Check sources before passing on information, especially in a financial or investment context.
"},"title":"Necessary reflexes"},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Train your environment"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"Being vigilant yourself is not enough if your loved ones or co-workers remain vulnerable. Fraudsters often pick out the weakest link: an assistant who replies quickly, a parent who is worried, an advisor who receives a seemingly urgent e-mail, etc. Organise regular moments of awareness: simply showing a deepfake video or an AI-created message is often enough to make people alert.
Agree on a secret phrase for sensitive and urgent information you share with your loved ones. That phrase should sound trivial, but the answer should be very precise and, if possible, taken out of context. Examples: - "I slept very badly last night." - "No wonder, the blue sweater you wore yesterday didn't match your hair cut at all!"
In both families and businesses, safety becomes a collective given.
"}},{"componentType":"sectionTitle","title":"Regain control of information"},{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"In a world where images, voices and even emotions can be imitated, our most important skill is increasingly our ability to filter. It is no longer the amount of information that matters, but our ability to categorize it hierarchically, question it and check it. Because of AI, much has changed and illusion is within everyone's reach. It is up to us to keep a sharp mind and a cool head.
"}}]},"hasMacro":false,"id":"52ec4c60-e6fa-47b1-8430-270f6f3937d8","legalZone":{"flexComponents":[{"componentType":"paragraph","richBody":{"value":"This article is for information purposes only and the information in this article may change over time. We therefore recommend that you always consult the specific rules and requirements with the competent authorities for the most up-to-date information. We also recommend that you seek professional advice on a case-by-case basis before making a decision. ING Belgium NV cannot be held liable for decisions made on the basis of the information provided here.
"},"title":"Disclaimer"}]},"localeString":"en-GB","mainHeaderZone":{"backLink":{"textLink":{"text":"I protect my business","url":"/en/business/news/secure-business"}},"componentType":"editorialHeader","coreHeader":{"body":"Once upon a time, online fraud could be identified by a few spelling mistakes, a logo made up of pixels or a clumsy attempt to extort money from someone. Those days are gone. In 2025, fraudsters will have a formidable weapon: artificial intelligence. With its power of persuasion, they will win over their targets.","headerImage":{"extension":"png","original":"https://assets.ing.com/asset/886fc3b6-d82b-4378-9202-65879f3a3467/Artikel-cybersecurity-nieuwsbrief-BB-maart-2026.png","transformBaseUrl":"https://assets.ing.com/transform/886fc3b6-d82b-4378-9202-65879f3a3467/Artikel-cybersecurity-nieuwsbrief-BB-maart-2026","type":"image","width":1920},"title":"When artificial intelligence makes it all seem real"},"date":"2026-04-01","readingTime":3},"publishDate":"2026-04-01T11:29:17.613+02:00"}}