If you’re plugged into the digital infrastructure in any capacity, it’s safe to assume you’ve probably received at least one random call, text, or email with urgent messaging within the last few months. It likely said something to the effect of “Your package has been delivered to the wrong address!” or “Please authorize this suspiciously large charge from a big box e-tailer!” (As if they’d ever check something like that with you…)
Maybe you panic and think “I’ve gotta click that link and move fast!” before your better judgment can intervene and detect the fluke. But there’s always that stomach-drop instant when you’re anxious, vulnerable, and the scammers can get you. And the truth is, anyone can fall for it.
According to a recent research study conducted by McAfee — the global leader in online protection — over half of Americans say they or someone they know has fallen victim to an online scam in the last year*. In fact, people in the U.S. are exposed to up to 14 scams per day*, costing individuals not only their pride, but significant financial harm: specifically, to the tune of $1,471 on average per con in American users*. In 2024, online scammers conned their way to a whopping sum: more than $16.6 billion*. Luckily, as the scammers get smart, protection gets smarter.
Case in point: McAfee’s Scam Detector, a new feature engineered to stay current with sophisticated scam trends and head them off at the pass. Powered by McAfee Smart AI — an award-winning, reliable online protection technology — this all-in-one innovative tool monitors your email inbox, blocks risky texts, and spots misleading videos and audio created with artificial intelligence (AI).
Want to weed out the snakes in your digital life? Read on to learn more about how McAfee’s Scam Detector can help.
1. Email And Text Protection
So, how does it all work? Once you set it up, McAfee’s Scam Detector kicks into gear instantly and automatically across your devices. And it can support up to 10 different email accounts. Just plug in your preferred settings, and let Scam Detector do the rest. It can scan your messages, analyze whether you should reply, send notifications alerting you to suspicious correspondence, and block risky links that can corrupt your personal info (even if you already clicked). Depending on your sensitivity settings, the service either sends an alert when a scam is detected, or completely filters the message out. Better yet: if you’re already a McAfee+ or McAfee Total Protection User, Scam Protection is now included in your plan at no extra cost.
2. Suspicious Activity Gets Flagged
Did you know that for the price of a coffee, a scammer can create an incredibly convincing deepfake video or audio recording of a loved one*? In fact, voice cloning scams need just three seconds of audio to turn a trusted person’s voice into a weapon*. Luckily, Scam Detector offers cutting-edge deepfake video detection powered by AI to fight back against schemes created by AI, automatically alerting users to deepfakes. So when you encounter “someone” pretending to be your boss or your grandmother urgently requiring your banking information, Scam Detector is there to protect you.
3. Improve Your Scam Radar
What’s that saying about teaching a man to fish? (Pun intended.) Scam Detector doesn’t just sniff out phishing scams; it also teaches you the basics of what a scam looks like and hones your own scam radar. Beyond flagging suspicious emails the moment they hit your inbox, Scam Detector also includes contextual information on phishing emails about why the message appears suspicious — like the email or domain name being misspelled, or an ever-so-slightly wonky company logo. This way, users can better recognize and understand how to spot dodgy activity floating around in their inboxes in the future.
4. Save Valuable Time And Money
Globally, the average person spends 83 hours per year reviewing texts, emails, and social media activity to determine whether or not they contain threats. For Americans, that number jumps up to 94 hours per year. A service like Scam Detector helps you save valuable time and money protecting against such threats, wherever you are, no matter the device. Not only will you think twice before one click runs you a $1,500 bill, but you’ll also cut down valuable hours trying to determine if a message calls for urgency, or is even worth responding to.
Stop second-guessing the authenticity of texts, emails, and videos that hit your smartphone and computer, and start clicking confidently. Learn more about McAfee’s Scam Detector.
