AI has made everyday life more convenient, but it has also given scammers a powerful new set of tools. In this episode, Melissa Joy, CFP®, is joined by Patrick Coughlin, CEO of Savi Security and author of the new book The Dark Side of the Boom: How Scammers Hijacked the AI Revolution. After building and selling a cybersecurity company to Splunk, Patrick shifted his focus to protecting everyday families following a deeply personal experience: a sophisticated AI voice cloning scam that targeted his own mother.

Patrick walks through how AI tools are supercharging scam operations around the world, why imposter scams have become the most reported fraud type in the country, and the practical habits families can build to protect themselves, from creating a family code word to running a second channel check before sending money. Melissa and Patrick also discuss the role financial advisors and trusted contacts can play in catching fraud early, and how parents can talk to kids and teens about digital safety without shame.

What You'll Learn

• How an AI voice cloning scam targeted Patrick Coughlin's mother, and what helped her recognize it in time
• Why digital fraud now costs Americans almost $200 billion a year and has grown eightfold since the launch of ChatGPT
• The "five families of fraud" and how scam organizations around the world specialize like businesses
• Why imposter scams are now the number one reported fraud type, making up 33 percent of all scams in 2025
• What a "hot zone" moment looks like, and the three ingredients scammers rely on to pressure victims
• How a family code word and a second channel check can stop a scam before money changes hands
• Why caller ID can be faked, and what to do instead if you get a call from your bank's fraud department
• The role trusted contacts and financial advisors can play in catching fraud early
• How to talk with teens and aging parents about scams without shame, and why younger generations are targeted more often than they realize
• How free tools like ScamWise can give you a fast second opinion on a suspicious text, email, or piece of mail

Download the Digital Fraud Protection Guide

Connect with Patrick: LinkedIn

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Savi Security: Website

Savi Security LinkedIn: LinkedIn

Savi Security Instagram: Instagram

The Dark Side of the Boom: Book

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