标准军语：火焰定向地雷（简称火焰地雷、油桶纵火地雷）
Friday, June 5, 2026
AI: How to avoid scams that are created by AI
https://www.straitstimes.com/business/invest/how-to-avoid-scams-that-are-created-by-ai
2026-06-05
Brian X. Chen
NYTIMES
Brian X. Chen is the lead consumer technology writer for The New York Times and author of Tech Fix, a weekly column.
=====
Low-cost chatbots, image generators and voice-cloning tools make it simple for criminals to produce pristine copy, create seemingly legitimate websites and even replicate identities.
AI-powered internet scams have become so convincing that I confess I almost fell for one. While mindlessly scrolling through TikTok videos, I came across an ad for a pair of Hoka sneakers marked 80 per cent off. When I tapped on it, a website loaded that looked like an authentic clearance outlet for the shoe brand.
But a quick web search revealed that users on Reddit had been scammed by this site; Hoka had even published a warning about a surge of fake web stores masquerading as its brand.
These look-alike websites are one of several AI-fueled internet scams that have recently been on the rise, security experts say. The FBI reported in April 2026 that cybercriminals had defrauded Americans of nearly US$21 billion in 2025, with about US$893 million in losses linked to AI.
Because AI makes it effortless to build websites and digital avatars, we may have to rethink our approach to protecting ourselves from online fraud.
Other than fake stores, scammers have used AI to pretend to be someone close to their victims, including family members and old flames. To put it another way, AI has made it possible for criminals to tailor their attacks to be more personal than ever before.
Here’s what to know about the most common AI scams and what to do.
AI impersonators
==============
Fraudsters are using video calls as they can use AI tools that digitally transform them into someone else.
“It’s very easy and very cheap to do a real-time Zoom call with whole body replacement and voice changing in a way that’s completely realistic,” said Andrew Yoon, a researcher at CivAI, a nonprofit that teaches people about AI’s capabilities.
This scheme could take on different forms depending on the victim’s interests and weaknesses. A lonely male may be tricked into believing that an attractive woman from his past is hoping to reconnect. A job seeker could be duped by a phony AI interviewer into doing work for a bogus company.
And because phone numbers are easy to fake and the names and contact information for our relatives are publicly available online, the scams can get much more personal. A mother could receive a fraudulent text message from her son’s phone number and eventually get on a video call with an AI simulation of him, where the impersonator asks for money.
Yoon suggested a low-tech antidote: Have conversations with family members, especially any older relatives inexperienced with tech, to discuss the possibility that they might get a call from an impersonator. Establish a secret safe word that can be used to test whether someone is real, whenever in doubt.
More on this topic
Elon Musk ‘needed’ her to save his business, S’pore woman who lost $600k to scammers told daughters
I write about scammers. Now, they are writing as me
The fake celebrity
==============
Fake videos featuring Hollywood celebrities and high-profile business executives are widespread because so many images and videos of them are available on the web to help AI models generate near-perfect imitations.
Some scammers have tried to exploit celebrities by using their star status to market nonexistent products. Deepfake videos of chef Gordon Ramsay, for instance, circulated on social media in the past few years endorsing a cookware giveaway; victims who thought they were paying a small shipping fee for free frying pans were handing their credit card numbers to criminals.
Abusers also generated deepfake videos of Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, to lure his fans into making phony investments. It happened so often, he posted an Instagram video educating his followers on how to spot these types of scams.
Branson’s advice was spot on. Trust only information from official sources – for example, in the case of Branson, a webpage published on Virgin.com. Blue checkmarks on social media sites are not foolproof indicators that people are who they claim to be, so don’t let them lure you into shady get-rich-quick schemes.
The cloned brand
==============
Ads that direct you to AI-generated scam sites, like the sneaker shop that almost tricked me, are prolific on social media. The ads may be directly relevant to your personal interests – for instance, if you encounter a fake store selling a bicycle.
That’s because the scammers pay for ad space on TikTok and Instagram to leverage the same tools that real marketers use to target ads at people with relevant interests.
There are ways to quickly determine whether an online store posing as a brand is fake. A simple method is to do a Google search for the store’s web address and see what people are saying about it on sites like Reddit.
For more thorough scam detection, you can also ask an AI chatbot for help. Malwarebytes recently teamed up with OpenAI and Anthropic to connect its free scam-detection app to the ChatGPT and Claude chatbots. You can paste a web address and screenshots into the chatbots and ask Malwarebytes to run an analysis on whether a site is legitimate.
If that sounds like too much work, there’s one age-old piece of conventional wisdom that is still true in the era of AI: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. NYTIMES
=====
More on this topic
How to sue and recover from a bad investment
Invest microsite: Get more investment and career tips
=====
联合早报星期五（2026-06-05）社论：“边做边谈”的香会对乱世更重要
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/forum/editorial/story20260604-9156235?utm_source=android-share&utm_medium=app
=====
第23届香格里拉对话星期天（5月31日）圆满闭幕，今年汇聚44个国家的代表，其中有54名是部长级高官，凸显在当下地缘政治重组的历史时刻，安全对话更加受到各国重视。公共服务统筹部长兼国防部长陈振声在会后接受各国媒体采访时，强调对话的必要性。他指出，要成为值得信赖的伙伴，各国必须积极同合作伙伴沟通，减少对彼此意图的误判。他说，“只做不谈”会招致对方猜忌。无论是增加国防开支，还是发展新军事能力，都应明白表明意图，“边做边谈”才能消除疑虑，最终“万事不难”。
本届香会的实质成果是星期六（5月30日）由17个国家联合发布的《水下基础设施防务交流指导原则》指导原则，指导原则属于自愿性质，不具法律和财务约束力，也不会损及或改变各方依据国际法，包括《联合国海洋法公约》，所享有的权利和须承担的义务。参与国同意各国军方应发挥作用，协助民事机构和私人业者应对针对水下基础设施的安全威胁，包括支援海上监测工作。此前在波罗的海和台湾海峡发生海底通信电缆遭破坏事件，以及当下波斯湾可能出现类似的威胁，凸显指导原则的必要性。作为国际枢纽，这一指导原则对新加坡的意义不言而喻。
与往年一样，新加坡利用香会重申成立55年的五国联防机制的重要性，陈振声5月31日设早餐会招待澳大利亚副总理兼防长马尔斯、新西兰防长彭克、马来西亚防长卡立诺丁，以及英国国防部防务政策总司长怀厄特。五国联防安排成员国通过定期展开的大规模军事演习，持续提升军队之间的互操作能力。随着环境演变，合作内容也不断扩展，除了传统军演，也涵盖人道援助与灾难救援、反恐及海上安全等非传统安全领域。国际对立日益升温的新时局，类似五国联防等安全合作机制，有助于维护区域和平稳定。
Are all "phone plans for seniors only in Singapore" postpaid?
AI Mode
No, not all senior-specific mobile plans in Singapore are postpaid.
While popular "Seniors Go Digital" options are contract-free postpaid SIM-only plans, major local telcos explicitly offer prepaid mobile plans curated specifically for seniors aged 60 and above.
Seniors-Only Prepaid vs. Postpaid Options
Seniors who prefer to pay upfront to prevent unintended billing surprises can find dedicated prepaid options alongside standard postpaid ones:
- Singtel Seniors hi! Prepaid Plans: Singtel features targeted prepaid options like the $5 Senior hi! Plan (offering large data buckets like 400GB) and the $15 Ultimate Plan Seniors 60+ (which bundles 20GB local data, 1,000 local minutes, and free data for communication apps like WhatsApp). They also roll out limited-edition promotional prepaid SIMs for seniors, such as the Singtel SG60 Prepaid Campaign which gifts free multi-month 5G+ data access.
- Postpaid SIM-Only (No-Contract): Most of the market's standard "senior plans" fall into the no-contract postpaid category. Providers like Singtel ($6/mth), StarHub via the PAssion Card promo ($6/mth), and SIMBA ($5/mth) operate on a monthly recurring bill but allow you to cancel at any time.
Key Differences to Keep in Mind
- Prepaid Senior Plans: You purchase a SIM card or top-up wallet balance upfront. The service automatically stops when entitlements run out, eliminating the risk of accidental excess charges.
- Postpaid Senior Plans: You receive a monthly bill. While many are contract-free, they often feature automated safety guards—like Singtel's Scam Call Protect or StarHub's ScamSafe—built directly into the subscription.
If you are choosing a plan for yourself or a family member, would you prefer a completely card-managed automated monthly bill, or are you looking for manual top-up scratch cards/digital vouchers to strictly control the budget?
AI Mode response is ready
Do you have a list of prepaid phone plans in Singapore?2026-06-05
Do you have a list of prepaid phone plans in Singapore?
2026-06-05
=====
Yes, Singapore's major telecommunications providers offer highly competitive prepaid mobile plans with massive data allowances and built-in roaming. [1, 2]
The market is led by the three main telcos—Singtel, StarHub, and M1—which provide monthly-renewing prepaid data packs. In addition to local 4G or 5G data, these plans typically include international direct dialing (IDD) minutes and regional data roaming allowances for popular destinations like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Major Prepaid Mobile Plans
The most popular prepaid choices from Singapore's primary network providers offer excellent value for both short-term and long-term usage.
Singtel hi! Prepaid Plans
Operating on Singapore’s most extensive Singtel network:
- $12 Plan (4G): Includes 500GB of local data (usable in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Hong Kong), 12GB APAC roaming, and 500 IDD minutes.
- $15 Plan (5G+): Includes 500GB of local data (usable across SG, MY, ID, TH, HK), 18GB APAC roaming, 8GB worldwide roaming, unlimited local calls, and 600 IDD minutes.
- $20 Plan (5G+): Provides 700GB of local data (usable across ASEAN & HK), 36GB APAC roaming, 10GB worldwide roaming, and 1,000 IDD minutes.
- Note: All monthly plans support a data rollover feature for up to 6 months. [3, 7, 8, 9, 10]
StarHub 5G Prepaid Plans
Accessible on the StarHub Prepaid platform, with massive data allocations:
- $12 Plan (4G): Offers 500GB total data (300GB local + 200GB Southeast Asia roaming), 15GB APAC data, and 500 IDD minutes.
- $15 Plan (5G Core): Offers 500GB total data (300GB local + 200GB Southeast Asia roaming), 30GB APAC data, unlimited local calls/SMS, and 600 IDD minutes.
- $30 Plan (5G Plus): Delivers 700GB total data (400GB local + 300GB Southeast Asia roaming), 90GB APAC data, and 600 IDD minutes. [2, 11]
M1 Prepaid M Card Plans
Available through the M1 Prepaid services:
- $14 Plan (4G): A standard 4-week local package offering a large data allowance, unlimited incoming calls, and local SMS.
- $27 Plan (5G): Designed for heavy users, featuring 1,000GB of data (usable across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan), 10GB for other APAC regions, 5,000 minutes of local outgoing calls, and up to 1,200 IDD minutes.
- M1 2-in-1 EZ-Link SIM ($15): Provides 300GB of local data for 30 days, unlimited local talk time, 600 IDD minutes, and doubles as a transit card with $3 pre-loaded value. [12, 13, 14, 15]
Comparison of Popular S$15 5G Prepaid Plans [16]
If you are looking for a standard, budget-friendly 5G tier, the S$15 monthly plans from Singtel and StarHub offer the best overall value. [2, 3]
| Feature [2, 3, 9, 10, 17] | Singtel $15 hi! 5G+ | StarHub $15 5G Core |
|---|---|---|
| Network Speed | 5G+ Standalone | 5G |
| Local Data | 500GB (usable in SG, MY, ID, TH, HK) | 300GB |
| Regional Roaming | 18GB APAC + 8GB Worldwide | 200GB SEA + 30GB APAC |
| Local Talk / SMS | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| IDD Minutes | 600 mins (+100 mins Myanmar) | 600 mins (+100 mins Myanmar) |
| Data Rollover | Yes (up to 6 months) | No |
Alternatives: No-Contract SIM-Only Plans [18]
If you want low prices without the hassle of manually topping up physical cards, consider No-Contract SIM-Only Plans from Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs). They operate on the same major networks but function via automated monthly billing, often yielding cheaper baselines: [19, 20, 21, 22, 23]
- Zero1 (Starter Prime): Costs S$7.06/month for 200GB of 4G local data on the Singtel network.
- SIMBA (400GB Plan): Costs S$10.00/30 days for 400GB of 5G data and includes free roaming allowances.
- Maxx / MyRepublic: Offer promotional data rates starting from S$7.90/month for up to 388GB of data. [19]
If you would like to narrow this down, tell me if you are looking for a short-term Tourist SIM, a long-term local prepaid card, or if you require heavy data roaming for traveling out of Singapore.
SIMCardHowMany (Beta) 2026-03-02
Please visit:
SIMCardHowMany (Beta)
https://form.gov.sg/693bb31949318d058e5c1360
Mobile phones: New SIM card checker tool rolled out in Singapore to combat scams 2026-03-02
2026-03-02
2026-03-04 updated
https://www.straitstimes.com/tech/new-tool-lets-sporeans-check-the-number-of-postpaid-sim-cards-registered-to-their-name
=====
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
