LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A cybersecurity expert speaking at the Black Hat conference in Las Vegas says generative AI is making scams significantly harder to identify, with criminals now using the technology to craft phishing emails that sound natural and match a company’s tone.
Tony Sabaj, security evangelist at Check Point Software, said AI-generated phishing messages have replaced the typo-filled, poorly written emails that once made scams easier to spot.
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“A lot of times attacks start with phishing emails, and you’re starting to see a lot of the attackers use generative AI to make the emails seem more realistic,” Sabaj said. “Now with generative AI they can make emails seem more natural language.”
Las Vegas casinos and hotels called prime targets
Sabaj said deep-fake voice and video technology have also advanced, requiring only a few minutes of audio or video to clone a person’s likeness. He said Las Vegas is a high-value target because casinos and hotels hold bank data, gambling habits and travel history.
He also warned about fake Wi-Fi hotspots and attempts to read data from digital room keys or unlocked phones.
What to do after a data breach
Sabaj said when a casino or local business is hacked, stolen login credentials can quickly become ransom material or be sold online. He said criminals frequently use stolen emails and passwords to attempt access to other accounts — particularly bank accounts — because many people reuse the same credentials across multiple platforms.
If you receive a breach notice, Sabaj said to activate any free credit monitoring offered, change reused passwords and enable multi-factor authentication or passkeys.
He said most attacks still begin by targeting people rather than systems.
“Most attacks start with phishing attacks. It’s a lot easier to fool a human than it is to fool a computer or to hack something,” Sabaj said. “So, if I can get you to give me access to your bank account, that’s a lot easier than it is to hack your banking system.”
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