Control Room: How AI is powering scams

A new kind of identity theft

AI tools now make it easy for criminals to create convincing deepfakes, clone voices, and invent fake identities. What once required technical expertise is now accessible to anyone online.

From fraudulent video calls to cloned voices used in emergency scams, attackers exploit one thing — trust. They use fear, urgency, and emotion to get you to act fast. That’s why understanding the signs is key to protecting your personal information. In the first episode of Control Room, hosts Shawnee Delaney, former DIA Case Officer and former Army Ranger and Delta Operator, Tyler Grey talk with guest Renée DiResta, an expert on disinformation and online manipulation who has testified before Congress and shaped public understanding of how influence campaigns spread.

They unpack real scams, digital traps, and what parents can do to protect their kids in the AI era.

Watch the full Control Room episode on YouTube to learn more.

From intelligence work to digital defense

Renée DiResta’s career began in the heart of the intelligence community, interning with the CIA’s Directorate of Science & Technology. She later moved into quantitative finance, founded a startup in Silicon Valley, and then shifted focus to something deeply relevant to you: how online manipulation happens.

Her work at the Stanford Internet Observatory explored how state-sponsored influence campaigns evolve — and how the same techniques that once shaped public opinion now fuel identity theft. She’s not just writing the story; she’s helping us understand it.

The threat landscape has shifted

Identity theft used to be limited by resource-intensive attacks: stolen credit cards, misplaced documents, the occasional phishing email. But now? Thanks to AI, the bar has dropped. Deepfakes, voice clones, synthetic identities — these are no longer niche problems. They’re mainstream.

Anyone with access to online tools can create realistic fraudulent content. Anyone. That means you. And that means all of us. The victory condition for criminals? Your trust. If they can mirror your voice, your face, your behavior — they’re halfway in. See the full episode now live on our YouTube channel so you can stay alert an informed.

Watch new episodes of Control Room every week

Ready to take control? Subscribe to the LifeLock YouTube channel and watch new episodes of Control Room every week at 5 pm EST. Each episode breaks down the latest identity threats and digital scams — giving you the knowledge to protect what matters most.