McAfee’s Scam Detector Added to Core Plans, Protecting People Against Text, Email, and Video Scams

TV actor Chris Carmack joins McAfee’s ‘Keep it Real’ Movement to End Scam Stigma and Promote Awareness

Today, online protection company McAfee is taking a major step forward in the fight against scams by introducing McAfee’s Scam Detector, a powerful new feature that automatically identifies scams across text, email, and video. Available now in all core McAfee plans at no extra cost, it arrives at a critical moment: nearly 1 in 3 Americans say they have fallen victim to an online scam¹ in the last 12 months. To meet this growing threat, McAfee is protecting customers with advanced, in-plan, AI-powered scam detection – and driving education and awareness through its Keep it Real campaign. Working with actor Chris Carmack and supported by FightCybercrime.org, McAfee is elevating scam survivor voices to help end scam stigma and keep others safe.

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Scam text alert on mobile home screen: McAfee’s Scam Detector

“At McAfee, we believe everyone should be able to live their lives online with confidence,” said Craig Boundy, CEO of online protection company McAfee. “The reality is that the volume, speed, and sophistication of today’s AI-driven scams have become a drain on people’s time, energy, and finances. By including text, email, and video scam detection within all core McAfee plans, we’re helping to democratize scam protection and empowering people to take control over their digital lives.”

As cybercriminals harness AI to craft convincing, personalized, and targeted scams at scale, it’s harder than ever to tell what’s real or fake. From deepfake investment videos to bogus delivery emails and fake toll text message scams, Americans face an average of 14 scams each day, according to McAfee’s research. Falling for just one can cost victims an average of $1,500.

Smart protection made simple

As scams become more advanced, McAfee is evolving to meet the threat with Scam Detector – proactive protection that’s simple, powerful, and built for the way people connect today. Between February and March 2025 alone, McAfee Labs saw scam texts nearly quadruple, with almost half of texts containing URLs using hidden links to disguise malicious intent. Scam Detector uses advanced AI to spot and stop scams across text, email, and video before they can do harm, delivering real-time protection when and where it matters most. Core capabilities include:

• Proven accuracy: Text scam detection exceeds 99% accuracy
• Smarter detection: Suspicious text messages identified solely using URLs account for less than 10% of the scams McAfee flags. We go beyond the link, analyzing the full context of each message to better identify and stop scams
• Custom controls: Settings (High, Balanced, Low) let people tailor their level of protection
• On-demand scam check: Upload a message, screenshot, or link for speedy analysis and context
• Deepfake detection: Identifies AI-generated videos with 96% accuracy in seconds
• Built for modern communication: Works across apps, browsers, and devices, including iMessage, WhatsApp, Messenger, Gmail, and more

Designed with a mobile-first approach, McAfee’s Scam Detector meets people where scams happen most. With texts opened in just 90 seconds, compared to 90 minutes for email², speed is essential. On Android, SMS messages are auto-scanned, with alerts before opening, and on iPhone, suspicious messages are filtered or manually scanned via a quick check function.

Scam Detector also protects email, flagging scams in Gmail, Microsoft, and Yahoo, while explaining why messages were flagged to help customers build their scam-spotting skills. For deepfake detection, McAfee identifies AI-manipulated videos on YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms, all processed on-device to protect the person’s privacy. In February 2025, McAfee Labs saw 59% of deepfake detections come from YouTube, more than all other domains combined. March showed similar trends, reinforcing YouTube’s role as a primary source of deepfake content and the growing need for tools that help people tell what’s real and what’s not.

Keep it Real: Turning stories into strength, and losses into lessons

While the financial damage of scams makes headlines, the emotional fallout is rarely highlighted. McAfee’s Keep it Real initiative is built to drive awareness, education, and empathy around scams. It combines thought-provoking ads with Scam Stories, a movement inviting survivors to share their experiences online, on social, or with McAfee directly. Amplifying real voices reduces stigma, raises awareness of McAfee’s Scam Detector, and helps people recognize red flags to stay safer online.

“Shame keeps victims silent, and that silence is exactly what scammers count on,” said Ally Armeson, Executive Director of FightCybercrime.org. “Scam Stories is about making space for honesty, healing, hope, and help. We’re proud to partner with McAfee to help survivors speak out and share stories that will help others stay safe, and we look forward to working with them as we continue to help people recognize, report, and recover from cybercrime.”

Actor Chris Carmack and his wife, performer Erin Slaver, are helping launch the movement by sharing their own scam experiences – from Carmack ignoring a real bill he thought was fake, to Erin falling for a shopping scam, and Erin’s parents clicking on a scam text disguised as a message from their internet provider.

“Scams aren’t just stories, they’re happening to people we love,” said Carmack. “It’s getting harder to tell what’s real, and that’s especially scary when we think about our parents and kids. That’s why we’re proud to share our scam stories – because every story shared helps break the stigma, raise awareness, and protect more people from falling into the same traps.”

As part of Scam Stories, McAfee is helping scam survivors share their stories and, in working with companies like ticket marketplace Vivid Seats, is helping to give back and deliver meaningful experiences to scam survivors. In every Scam Story, McAfee’s Scam Detector would have flagged the scam before it caused harm.

• Brittany, a second grade teacher, had saved for months to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour with friends – but days before the show, her tickets vanished from her account. A reused password, no two-factor authentication, and a single click on a suspicious link had let a scammer in. “I was so excited – and then the tickets were just… gone,” she said. “You can be careful and still get caught. I’m only human, and that’s exactly what scammers count on.”
• Cory, a fitness coach who texts with clients daily, clicked a fake verification message during a hectic day – and within minutes, his phone number was hijacked. He couldn’t call, text, or access any accounts tied to his number. “I was in the middle of a busy day and clicked without thinking. My phone stopped working almost immediately,” he said. The experience left him shaken and determined to help others avoid the same trap: “It was one click. That’s all it took.”
• Bradley, a new dad running on little sleep, got a convincing call from someone posing as the IRS – complete with personal details and urgent threats. Exhausted and anxious, he clicked a follow-up link, sent $800, and unknowingly gave scammers access to his bank account. “I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just wanted to fix it fast,” he said. Nearly a year later, he still hasn’t told his family. “Scammers prey on stress. If someone demands money right away, stop and verify.”

“Scams steal more than money - they shake your confidence. That’s why we’re pairing powerful AI scam detection with real-world education through our Keep it Real campaign,” Boundy said. “This call to action empowers people to spot scams, share their stories, and stay safer – and end the silence scammers count on.”

“Vivid Seats’ mission has always been to remove the anxiety from buying tickets online which is why trust and safety are at the core of everything we do,” said Stan Chia, CEO of Vivid Seats. “We’re proud to provide all fans with a reliable, and safe ticketing experience, and to have the chance to partner with McAfee to help these victims recover, rebuild confidence, and get back to doing what they love – enjoying live events.”

To learn more, submit your own scam story, or get protected today, visit https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/scam-stories. To learn more about McAfee’s Scam Detector and how to protect yourself, visit https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/scam-detector. Together, we can outsmart scammers and create a safer, more informed, empowered world.

About McAfee

McAfee Corp. is a global leader in online protection for consumers. Focused on protecting people, not just devices, McAfee’s consumer solutions adapt to users’ needs in an always online world, empowering them to live securely through integrated, intuitive solutions that protect their families, communities, and businesses with the right security at the right moment. For more information, please visit https://www.McAfee.com/.

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