alt Hacker NewsThere are plenty of examples of AI being successfully used to emulated the email / messaging style of a specific individual already known to the target, for spear fishing attacks, and fake video and audio of family members tricking people. I think you're substantially underestimating the peak ability of AI these days
I'm not saying AI is incapable of these attacks, I'm arguing a more likely explanation exists. If he wanted to accept, say, one book club a week, I don't believe he would have too much trouble figuring out a way to safely receive applications
a lot of people , including myself, are using AI as an excuse to push thru awkward changes