July 31, 2025 - 719 views
North Wales Police and Get Safe Online are teaming up to launch an AI safety campaign, encouraging safe use of AI in the area.
Tips to avoid scams include being cautious of unsolicited messages and verifying the sender's identity.
Get Safe Online is a service commissioned by the office of the PCC and the local Police Force to share helpful information and advice with the people of North Wales.
AI has become deeply embedded in our daily lives, powering everything from virtual assistants to shopping or entertainment recommendations. While these advances offer great convenience to the everyday user, they also carry risks that are often overlooked.
In the wrong hands, for example, AI can enable more convincing scams. This month’s campaign provides expert tips on how to use AI safely, and how to avoid being caught out by ever more sophisticated scams.
When online this summer, Get Safe Online advises to consider the following:
Check the context: Be wary of unsolicited emails, messages, or phone calls – even if they sound professional. If the message seems urgent or too good to be true, it could be a scam.
Inspect the details: AI-generated content may be grammatically perfect, but it can still include inconsistencies, such as slightly odd email addresses, incorrect logos or unusual phrasing. In images and videos, check for signs of things not being quite as they should.
Independently verify identity: Don’t rely on a message alone. Call or message the person or company through a known, trusted channel to confirm legitimacy.
Use AI as a tool, not a crutch: Let AI help brainstorm or summarise but always review and refine the content yourself to maintain authenticity and integrity. Be sure to validate information by checking other, trusted sources.
Protect your data: Avoid inputting sensitive personal or financial information into AI tools. Your details could be revealed to other people using generative AI or search tools.
Educate yourself: Stay informed about AI advancements and the latest scam tactics. Awareness is a powerful defence. AI can be a powerful tool, but it’s also one that can be exploited. By staying alert and using it responsibly, you can enjoy its benefits while minimising the risks.
Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin commented: “As Police and Crime Commissioner, fighting cybercrime is one of my key priorities and AI is one of the biggest digital and technological innovations of recent years. It has the power to transform our lives, often for the better. But with every innovation, there is always a criminal who will try and use it for their own ends, whether that be through fraud, theft, or deception.
“As well as using these new technologies, the important thing is for people to educate themselves about the dangers that might be lurking in the shadows. As the old saying goes, forewarned is forearmed. That’s why I encourage people to follow this new advice from Get Safe Online and stay safe while using the internet and information technology.”
Special Constable Dwain Barnes from North Wales Police’s Cybercrime Team said: “Although Generative AI has the potential to improve many aspects of society, it can also be used by criminals to author convincing phishing emails, create disinformation for social media posts or generate deepfake images and videos that look realistic, making them very difficult to spot.
“AI can also clone a person’s voice from a few seconds of audio. Scammers can therefore use AI to impersonate trusted individuals and trick people into transferring money or revealing sensitive information, for example. It is therefore more important than ever to double check information to ensure that it is from a trusted source and if you receive unexpected requests or messages which might seem urgent or emotional, take your time and verify that they are genuine by contacting the sender directly using a verified means of contact, not by replying to the message or calling the number back.
“To help you stay safe, use strong long passwords using three random words, turn on two-step verification for all your accounts and don’t share those codes with anyone else. Be mindful about what you are posting online, scammers can download your content and use it to create deepfakes, so it’s advisable to have strong privacy settings on your social media accounts.
“Also consider agreeing on a secret word or phrase with your family or team members, you can then use this to confirm that it really is them if something doesn’t feel right. Let’s keep spreading the word on how scammers are using AI, it’s important for more people to understand how AI deepfakes work, which will make it harder for scammers to succeed”
For more tips and guidance, visit www.getsafeonline.org
