Decoding Fraud in the Age of AI: Highlights from AARP New Jersey’s 2025 Fraud Summit

Smishing, synthetic identities, and scammer-fighting granny bots? Yep, it was that kind of summit.

AARP New Jersey’s 2025 Fraud Summit brought together cybersecurity pros, financial experts, law enforcement, and policy leaders to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the fraud landscape and what we can do about it. The tone was serious, but the insights were practical, empowering, and even a little amusing.

The day began with heartfelt welcome remarks from Curtis Springstead, the emcee and a passionate fraud prevention advocate. Curtis set the tone by reminding us that fraud isn’t just a headline, it’s personal. He shared his own experience as a fraud victim through a powerful video, underscoring why this work matters and why staying informed is so critical. His message was clear: We’re here to learn, connect, and protect ourselves and our communities.

Next up was Chris Widelo, AARP New Jersey’s State Director, who welcomed more than 300 attendees both in-person and online. Chris emphasized AARP’s commitment to fighting fraud through partnerships, community events, and educational outreach. He gave a special shoutout to the Speakers Bureau volunteers, whose efforts bring fraud prevention presentations to neighborhoods across the state. His message? Knowledge is power and by being here, you’re taking a big step toward protecting yourself and others.

Christine Braccino, a dedicated volunteer with the AARP Fraud Watch Network, wrapped up the opening remarks with a dose of motivation. She introduced the Fraud Watch Network as a free, public resource offering alerts, support, and advocacy. Christine highlighted how AI is changing the fraud game and how today’s summit would help us decode those changes and “harden the target” (that’s us!) against increasingly sophisticated scams. She encouraged everyone to explore the many resource tables to continue their journey in learning about ways to keep us safe.

Here are some of the standout moments:

Smishing in the Garden State

Michael T. Geraghty, Director of the NJ Cybersecurity & Integration Cell, kicked things off by pulling back the curtain on local fraud trends. One eye-opener? Those fake NJ Motor Vehicle Commission texts that look legit but are anything but. He showed how scammers mimic government websites and even use sneaky tactics like “Reply Y to open” to lure iPhone users.

His advice: Look for red flags. These red flage are incorrect agency names, sketchy URLs, and anything that feels off. He closed with asking us to Trust in GOV to thward fraudulent websites impersonating legitimate government websites in NJ and other states. A .gov domain helps to build public trust and keep scammers at bay.

AI + Fraud = Synthetic People?

Staci Shatsoff from the Federal Reserve Financial Services explained how AI is making it easier for criminals to create “synthetic identities.” Think: real names and Social Security numbers mixed with AI-generated photos, fake utility bills, and social media personas. It’s like building a person from scratch except that person doesn’t exist.

Children and older adults are especially vulnerable, since they’re less likely to monitor their credit reports. And yes, old-school account takeovers are still a thing. Her call to action? Stay informed of red flags, technology being used by scammers and share what you learn with othersbecause knowledge is power.

Unmasking the Machine: The Expert Panel

A powerhouse panel tackled the big question: How do we fight fraud in the age of AI?

• Liz Buser (AARP Fraud Prevention) shared how AARP helps victims recover emotionally and financially.
• Kashif T. Chand (NJ Assistant Attorney General) broke down the legal side—consumer protection laws and the challenges of regulating AI-driven fraud.
• Dr. Fuad Hamidli (NJIT) explained how our digital footprints (yes, even passive ones) are exploited and how psychological manipulation plays a role.
• Bruce Wayne (FBI) gave us a peek into real investigations and how law enforcement is adapting to AI-enhanced scams.

From phishing to deepfakes, the message was clear: technology is making it easier for fraud to quickly evolve, and those tried and true red flags like bad grammar or mispellings are no longer there. We need to keep up through collaboration, education, and vigilance.

Microsoft: Fighting Fire with Fire

Ginny Badanes from Microsoft closed the summit with a glimpse into the future. Her team is piloting tools that can detect scammy language in real-time conversations, block fake “your computer is compromised” pop-ups in the Edge browser, and even deploy AI bots that keep scammers talking, wasting their time instead of yours.

Yes, one of those bots is styled like a sweet grandma. And yes, it’s kind of brilliant.

Final Thought

Financial criminals, commonly known by 'soft names' like scammers, fraudsters or scam artists, may be getting smarter through the use of technology but so are we. The 2025 Fraud Summit reminded us that with the right tools, teamwork, and a little tech-savvy, we can stay one step ahead.

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