Orlando parents are getting a sobering warning as federal numbers show scammers leaning hard on artificial intelligence to go after teenagers and other vulnerable targets. A wave of AI-assisted cons last year hit tens of thousands of Americans and cost victims hundreds of millions of dollars, local officials say, and teens are emerging as a favorite mark. Authorities are telling families to lock down social media, be extremely careful with personal information, and refuse to engage with any ransom or sudden payment demands.
FBI Numbers Put the Scale on the Threat
The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report logged 22,364 complaints tied to artificial intelligence and adjusted losses of about $893 million, according to the FBI. Investigators say AI is helping scammers supercharge old tricks, including impersonation schemes, voice cloning, and fake social profiles that pressure people to move money fast. The bureau is pushing a simple mantra to the public: “Take a Beat” and verify before sending cash or personal data.
Minors Are On the Radar
The annual IC3 report counted 13,168 complaints from people 17 or younger in 2025 and flagged 355 of those as AI-related. IC3 says it sent more than 5,700 submissions involving minors to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, underscoring how sextortion and online grooming can intersect with AI-driven tactics. While individual dollar losses for minors were typically smaller, the report stresses the broader harm and the speed at which these schemes can spread…