Colorado is on track to suffer even greater financial losses from scams by the end of 2024 compared to the nearly $100 million stolen in 2023. According to the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life may be driving this increase.
Gone are the days when misspelled words, unprofessional websites, and suspicious email domains were telltale signs of scams. With AI, criminals now replicate the voices of loved ones to stage fake emergencies, tricking victims into sharing money or sensitive information. “Artificial intelligence takes existing scam opportunities and puts them on steroids,” said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser.
In 2023, the FBI Denver Field Office reported that scammers stole $187 million from nearly 11,500 residents in Colorado—an increase of $9 million compared to 2022. Investment fraud ($50 million), business email compromise ($57 million), and tech support scams ($23 million) were the top schemes contributing to these losses.
Weiser’s office received a record-breaking 20,390 fraud complaints in 2023, up from 19,519 in 2019, reflecting a growing trend. Colorado now ranks seventh nationwide for scam complaints per capita. Many of these cases were reported through StopFraudColorado.com, a platform providing fraud education and reporting tools.
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