Campaign launched to promote safe AI use in North Wales
A new campaign aimed at promoting the safe and confident use of artificial intelligence (AI) has been launched across North Wales this month.
The initiative is a collaboration between Get Safe Online, North Wales Police, and Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin. It seeks to provide residents with expert advice on how to avoid AI-related scams and safely navigate digital tools this summer.
AI technologies, now widely used in virtual assistants, shopping, and entertainment, offer convenience but also open the door to sophisticated criminal activity, such as more convincing phishing attempts and deepfake content.
Get Safe Online advises users to be cautious of unsolicited communications and to scrutinise details that may appear unusual, such as odd email addresses or inconsistent logos. They recommend independently verifying the identity of anyone requesting sensitive information or money.
The campaign offers practical safety tips including using AI as a tool rather than relying on it entirely, protecting personal data by avoiding inputting sensitive details into AI tools, and staying informed about new scam tactics.
Andy Dunbobbin, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, said: “Fighting cybercrime is one of my key priorities and AI is one of the biggest digital and technological innovations of recent years. It has the power to transform our lives, often for the better. But with every innovation, there is always a criminal who will try and use it for their own ends, whether that be through fraud, theft, or deception.”
He added: “As the old saying goes, forewarned is forearmed. That’s why I encourage people to follow this new advice from Get Safe Online and stay safe while using the internet and information technology.”
Special Constable Dwain Barnes of North Wales Police’s Cybercrime Team highlighted the risks posed by generative AI in creating phishing emails, disinformation, and deepfake media. He warned that AI can clone voices to impersonate trusted people, potentially leading to fraud.
Barnes said: “It is more important than ever to double check information to ensure that it is from a trusted source and if you receive unexpected requests or messages which might seem urgent or emotional, take your time and verify that they are genuine by contacting the sender directly using a verified means of contact, not by replying to the message or calling the number back.”
He also advised: “Use strong long passwords using three random words, turn on two-step verification for all your accounts and don’t share those codes with anyone else. Be mindful about what you are posting online, scammers can download your content and use it to create deepfakes, so it’s advisable to have strong privacy settings on your social media accounts.”
Barnes suggested families or teams agree on secret words or phrases to confirm identities when something seems suspicious.
More guidance and tips can be found at www.getsafeonline.org.
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