The second season of the 'Anatomy of a Scam' podcast is set to delve into the cutting-edge technology utilised by cybercriminals, including voice cloning, deep fakes, and artificial intelligence (AI).

The podcast, a collaboration between 9Podcasts and the Commonwealth Bank, is hosted by journalist Deb Knight and tech expert Trevor Long.

The upcoming season will focus on 'impersonation scams', which make up 80% of all scams reported to Scamwatch. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) estimates that Australians lost a record $3.1 billion to scams in 2022, highlighting the severity of the issue.

Deb Knight warns, "The risk becomes greater the more intelligent the technology becomes. This is a very real threat to the Aussies, particularly in a cost of living crisis where every dollar counts."

Trevor Long the days of phishing scams filled with blatant spelling mistakes and obvious clues are long gone.

"Now with the power of AI, cybercriminals can craft note perfect voice clones, eerily accurate deep fakes and dodgy emails written in perfect English, highlighting the scary reality that the art of deception is alive, and no longer human," he said.

James Roberts, General Manager of Group Fraud Management Service at CommBank, emphasised the need for vigilance in the face of these sophisticated scams.

"There are many people and organisations using AI for good, with an aim to make things better in the world. But there are also criminals using AI to build sophisticated scams to trick others. That’s why it’s so important these days to remain alert and have a healthy level of scepticism when interacting online," he said.

The new season of 'Anatomy of a Scam' is set to launch on Tuesday 28 November, with new episodes released weekly. As cybercrime continues to evolve, the podcast promises to provide valuable insights into the latest tactics employed by scammers and how individuals can protect themselves in an increasingly digital world.