WSJ via MSN: “You’re on Facebook, LinkedIn or X and get a message. Maybe it’s from a stranger in your industry, maybe someone from your hometown claiming to know you from way back when. The person wants to reconnect or get your advice. This could all be wonderful. Or it could be the start of a scam. Unfortunately, security experts say, the latter is more likely, because personalized schemes to dupe internet users are on the rise. Trouble is, it is harder than ever to know whether that person showing up in your messages is real or not. A check mark next to someone’s name on social media used to mean their identity had been verified. That’s now not the case on all sites. Artificial intelligence can help bad actors replicate the voices and appearances of strangers. Online transactions—such as selling furniture on Facebook Marketplace—are magnets for fraud, banks and security experts warn. And schemers are cozying up to people online and pretending to kindle romance to gain access to their money, a form of fraud called “pig butchering.” The single best step to determine someone’s identity online and protect yourself is to slow down. Don’t rush to respond to an intriguing message. Instead do some vetting before taking things further. Tech companies are beginning to help, too, with Google, LinkedIn and Bumble introducing features to detect suspicious messages and users…”