A Bank Warning Against AI Impostors

By Alex P. Vidal 

“What all of us have to do is to make sure we are using AI in a way that is for the benefit of humanity, not to the detriment of humanity.” —Tim Cook

THE holiday season isn’t over yet thus a commercial bank has warned depositors, including this writer, our everyday habits may enable scammers to target innocent consumers like bank depositors.

To take back control, Citibank has alerted depositors that imposters are everywhere. “In a world of Artificial Intelligence, we can no longer immediately believe something even if we see or hear it,” Citibank explained.

“If something out of the ordinary comes up, don’t be afraid to say, ‘I’d like to verify this with your company.’ Don’t be bullied: Stop. Hang Up. Call the company.”

The bank warned that “anyone asking for your payment card is up to no good. As a rule, never give your card to anyone, even if the card has been cut up, because it can still be used if the chip is intact.”

It added: “Citi will never ask you to send or mail your card to anyone for any reason. If someone tells you they will come pick up your card, even to destroy it: Stop. Call your bank.”

Trending scams reportedly show that scammers are taking personal devices and authorizing payments from people’s phones.

“Make sure your apps have multi‑factor authentication like biometrics and one‑time passcodes required to access and transact. Have you ever been asked to lend someone your personal or payment devices? Stop. Be careful,” the bank suggested.

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“Investing can be exciting, but don’t let yourself get caught up in promises of fast returns. Counterfeit investment apps and digital currencies that require you to pay unexpected fees are an active threat. If someone emails or texts you a link to download an app, don’t click on it because it may take you to a site that looks like the real thing but is fake. Instead, go to the app store and download it from there. Before investing, do your research and make sure the investment platforms are secure. If something seems off or too good to be true: Stop. Call a trusted friend or family member.”

According to Citibank, certain information, such as card and account numbers, online credentials, etcetera should be shared with extreme caution.

“Be careful when sharing information like your favorite teacher, first car, best friend’s name, mother’s maiden name, etc. even on social media (think of those fun quizzes and personality tests). Before sharing: Stop. Hang up. Call a trusted friend or family member,” the bank encouraged.

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In a recent Swedish study of nearly 5,000 boys ages 15 to 18, those who ate fish frequently scored higher on intelligence tests. How much higher? Eating fish once a week was enough to boost scores by an average of 6 percent. Eating fish more than that resulted in nearly an 11 percent increase.

LET’S BE RESPONSIBLE. When fishing, let’s make an effort not to disturb small animals. Let’s remember not to use lead weights for angling as lead is a toxic metal. Let’s make sure we discard hooks and nets responsibly or take them home with us as they are a potential threat to wildlife.

LET’S NOT PICNIC ON PLASTIC. Let’s not take plastic utensils in picnic. Instead, let’s use old mugs, and plates from our own home or buy a set from a charity shop or garage sale. Metal cutlery can be wrapped in a dish towel to stop it clunking around.

LET’S PUSH AWAY PEST. The smell of camomile deters most small flies. Let’s make our own pesticide by infusing camomile flowers in hot water for ten minutes. Spray on plants to prevent pests alighting.

THE SEAFLOOR’S CONTOURS. Until recently, charts of submarine features in the icebound north were sketchy. Now a different world is emerging, as mapping expeditions believed. Such details are crucial: A country must describe the shape of the seabed and the thickness of sediment to support its claim.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)