10/14/2026
📅October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and at Valley FiberCom, we're passionate about helping our customers stay safe online.
That's why we're highlighting three online scams affecting people, businesses, and organizations right here in South Dakota, including ways AI is making some of them harder to recognize. (Long post ahead, but worth it. 😉)
🔎 1. Fake AI Search Answers & Sponsored Results
You Google a company's customer service number, and the AI-generated answer or first search result gives you one. You should be able to trust it, right? Not always! Scammers can manipulate information AI tools use or pay for sponsored search results that lead to fake websites and phone numbers.
→Stay safe: Skip the "Sponsored" results when looking for customer service or payment information, and don't automatically trust AI-generated answers. Instead, find the company's official website after the sponsored results and double-check its web address.
💸 2. Fake Vendor Invoices
This exact one has happened to a few South Dakota businesses and organizations, and they lost thousands of dollars. Scammers impersonate vendors that local businesses and organizations already work with, sending convincing invoices or requests to update payment information. AI can help make these messages look and sound more legitimate.
→Stay safe: Always verify invoices and banking changes by calling your vendor at a number you already have on file. Don't use the contact information provided in the suspicious email.
🏠 3. Facebook Marketplace Scams
From fake rental listings to fraudulent buyers, Marketplace scammers are getting creative. They may advertise homes they don't actually have permission to rent, request deposits upfront, send fake payment confirmations, or ask sellers for verification codes. AI can make fake listings and messages even more convincing.
→Stay safe: Verify rental properties and landlords independently before sending money. If you're selling, never share verification codes or trust screenshots as proof of payment. A lot of the time, if they ask for a deposit or payment before seeing/receiving the item, that's a red flag that it's a scam.
The bottom line? Scams have never been more convincing, thanks to AI. Just because something looks legitimate doesn't mean it is. Take a moment to verify before sharing personal information or sending money.
At Valley FiberCom, keeping our communities connected also means helping them stay informed and protected online.