McAfee Launches AI-Powered Scam Detector to Stop Scams Before They Strike

Scams are everywhere. McAfee’s new Scam Detector spots and stops scams across text, email, and video to keep you from being fooled.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--McAfee, a global online protection leader, today announced at CES the launch of AI-powered McAfee Scam Detector — the most comprehensive protection against text, email, and video scams. Today’s scams are smarter, sneakier, and more convincing than ever — and they’re everywhere. 59% of Americans say they or someone they know has fallen for an online scam in the last 12 months, with scam victims losing an average of $1,471.¹

The rise of deepfakes and ease of access to the AI tools to create them further complicates things. A McAfee Labs study of 17 different deepfake creation tools shows that for just $5 and in 10 minutes — the price of a latte and in less time than it takes to drink it — a scammer can create realistic-looking deepfake video or AI voice scams.

That's where McAfee Scam Detector comes in, giving control back to consumers and stopping scammers in their tracks with proactive, real-time protection against suspicious texts, fake emails, and deepfake videos that look incredibly real — all cleverly designed by scammers to steal people’s money and personal information.

Beginning this Spring, McAfee’s Scam Detector will be included at no extra cost for McAfee customers. This must-have product uses the latest in advanced AI technology to proactively analyze and flag risky messages in real time. That ‘Hi, how are you?’ text from a stranger? It’s one of the top text scams of 2024. An urgent email about a failed delivery? Probably fake. And no, Elon Musk doesn’t have a unique investment opportunity for you. McAfee makes it easy to tell real from fake in seconds and gives you the winning combination of tips and technology to keep scams out of your life for good.

Protecting people in today’s Scamiverse

Every day, scammers trick people with fake texts, emails, and videos, and the results can be devastating. Americans report receiving 14 scam messages daily, with 1 in 5 (19%) losing over $1,000 and 4% losing over $10,000 when they fall for one — and they spend 94 hours a year simply trying to figure out if the onslaught of messages they receive are real or fake.¹ Deepfake scams, which use AI to create fake videos, can be even worse – some people have lost over half a million dollars.² It’s clear that scams have become a drain on people’s time, energy, and finances:

• “I’ve had more issues with scam texts recently. I’d say within the last year, it’s just been bad. Like I’ve been getting a lot of spam emails, texts, calls…it’s a lot” – Tina, 31, Moore, SC
• “It was a fake email for UPS. I thought that I was signing up to change my address and instead it charged my credit card,” – Alexandria K. 46, Cumming, GA
• “While I love new technology, I have been very scared of AI-generated videos and information since seeing just how realistic it can be" – Haley, 24 from Shrewsbury, NJ

“Scammers are getting smarter every day, using technology like artificial intelligence to make their tricks more convincing and harder to spot,” said Steve Grobman, Chief Technology Officer, McAfee. “They play on people’s emotions – like fear, urgency, or trust – to get what they want. That’s why we created McAfee Scam Detector, powered by AI. It warns you about scams before they can cause harm, helps you stay in control of your personal information, and helps you build the skills needed to outsmart scammers for good.”

How McAfee’s AI-Powered Scam Detector works

McAfee’s Scam Detector is powered by McAfee Smart AI^TM, the same technology that makes McAfee’s online protection award-winning and so reliable. Here’s what this all-in-one protection does to keep people safe from email, text message, and video scams:

• Email Scam Detector: Monitors your inbox for suspicious emails and flags risky messages before you even open them. It also explains why a message is dangerous, so you’ll know what to look out for next time.
• Text Scam Detector: Detects suspect texts that scammers use to trick you into giving them money or clicking bad links, flags risky messages before you open them, and gives you clear explanations of why they’re dangerous.
• Deepfake Detector: Spots AI-made videos, letting you know if something you’re watching may not be what it seems. Whether it’s someone pretending to be your boss or a fake celebrity endorsement, McAfee makes sure you don’t get fooled. Innovation for deepfake detection continues with upcoming availability in more languages, including French, German, and Japanese. As showcased at CES, McAfee's deepfake detection technology will soon work seamlessly wherever you're online – across phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops.

Set up and go

• Seamless setup: For email protection, simply link your Gmail or Outlook account. Text and video scam protection are activated in the McAfee mobile app on Android or iOS. There is no need to download anything new, or to copy and paste links or upload files each time for analysis. Once set up, McAfee Scam Detector works proactively to detect incoming scams across text, email, and deepfakes automatically.
• Teaching you to spot scams: Beyond flagging suspicious content, McAfee’s Scam Detector explains why identified scams are dangerous, empowering users to recognize the tactics often used by cybercrooks.
• Simple notifications: Alerts come in the form of unobtrusive notifications, whether via your mobile app, email inbox, or video platform, to ensure you know what’s suspicious and why.

Simple, easy protection for everyone

• Free for McAfee customers: Soon, McAfee Scam Detector will be included as part of all McAfee+, McAfee Total Protection, and McAfee LiveSafe plans at no extra cost.
• Works instantly: Once it’s set up, Scam Detector goes to work immediately. No need to copy, paste, or second-guess if a message is fake – McAfee does it for you.
• Protects you wherever you’re online: Whether you’re using a phone, laptop, tablet, or Chromebook, Scam Detector helps keeps you safe across every device.

Keeping you safe in today’s online world

For more tips on avoiding scams and staying safe online, visit the McAfee Smart AI Hub at mcafee.ai. You can find more details on the State of the Scamiverse on McAfee’s blog and can get the latest in scam prevention at www.mcafee.ai. Together, we can outsmart scammers and make the internet a safer place for everyone.

About McAfee's State of the Scamiverse Report

McAfee's State of the Scamiverse Report explores the evolving landscape of online scams and frauds affecting people worldwide. It offers in-depth insights into the scale, scope, and impact of these threats, aiming to educate consumers and empower them with the knowledge to stay safe online.

About McAfee

McAfee Corp. is a global leader in online protection for consumers. Focused on protecting people, not just devices, McAfee’s consumer solutions adapt to users’ needs in an always online world, empowering them to live securely through integrated, intuitive solutions that protect their families, communities, and businesses with the right security at the right moment. For more information, please visit https://www.McAfee.com/.

Forward-looking disclaimer

This document contains information on products, services and/or processes in development. All information provided here is subject to change without notice at McAfee’s sole discretion. Nothing in this document shall be considered an offer by McAfee, create obligations for McAfee, or create expectations of future releases which impact current purchase or partnership decisions.

¹ A McAfee survey, which focused on the topic of deepfakes, text and email scam messages, and the impact of these scams on consumers, was conducted online in December 2024. 5,000 adults, age 18+, In 7 countries (US, Australia, India, UK, France, Germany, Japan), participated in the study.

² For example, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/08/14/technology/elon-musk-ai-deepfake-scam.html