"The creation or distribution of synthetic content (e.g., deepfakes)
is not inherently illegal " [Author's Note]
IN BRIEF
AI-driven fraud is highly personalized.
Victims often don’t realize they are being scammed.
It’s not just a problem for celebrities. A 1200% increase since 2022.
Phishing is the most common type of AI-driven fraud.
The golden rule of protection: don’t rush.
DECEPTION YOU WANT TO BELIEVE:
How Fraudsters Use AI:
Imagine you’re in a new restaurant. A waiter approaches, calls you by name, serves your favorite drink, and offers dishes you absolutely love. It feels like they know and value you, which is delightful. But this restaurant has a quirk: you have to pay in advance. The waiter explains it as the eccentric rule of the owner. Trusting them, you pay the bill. Moments later, you discover you’ve been charged £5000 instead of £50. The waiter vanishes, the restaurant is empty, and you’re left with neither money nor food.
This is exactly how AI-driven fraud works. Instead of a restaurant, it might be an email with a link or a phone call from a "relative" urgently asking for financial help.
"SMART FRAUD":
How is it different from traditional scams?
The problem has become so significant that the FBI issued a special warning to Americans. The agency states:"Criminals are leveraging AI to commit fraud on a larger scale, increasing the plausibility of their schemes."
Here are the three main characteristics of AI-driven fraud:
"Just You"Fraudsters use AI to analyze social media and other data about their target. They know your relatives’ names, your dog’s name, and your workplace. This helps them craft convincing traps.
"Trust Your Eyes"Deepfakes are becoming so realistic that distinguishing them from reality is difficult. Scammers use them to impersonate your boss on a call or to create fake compromising photos for extortion.
"The Entire Internet Isn’t Enough"AI enables scammers to send thousands of messages, each tailored to its recipient. This combines mass spam with personalized targeting.
"IT DOESN’T AFFECT ME"
That’s what I thought too—until I got scammed by a fake text message from the post office. I clicked the link and paid £10 for what I thought was redelivery of a parcel. Only later did I realize it was a scam.
And this is just one of countless examples. Here are some facts:
AI fraud is everywhere. We often don’t realize it until we become victims ourselves.
HOW DO THEY SCAM US?
After reviewing dozens of websites about AI fraud, I’ve identified three of the most common scams:
Chatbot Scams We don’t realize it’s a chatbot. For example, you visit your electricity provider’s website. A popup appears offering help, and you believe it’s a real person. In reality, it’s a bot. The issue lies in the website itself—it might be fake. This way, scammers gather confidential information (like your bank account number) and use it to steal money.
Social Media Scams Just like the first example, fraudsters create fake websites that look authentic. These are often clones of popular brand stores or outlets advertising huge discounts. These fake stores are promoted on social media. After paying, the buyer may not realize they’ve been scammed for weeks. Scammers even send fake delivery notifications, claiming "your item is on its way." Meanwhile, they cover their tracks and set up a new fake store.
Impersonation Scams "I’m in trouble! Please send money, Mom!" This could be a call, text, or email from someone pretending to be your child, parent, or friend. Fraudsters use real names, addresses, and other personal data to seem credible. They always create a sense of urgency to stop you from thinking critically. For instance, why is your son calling from an unknown number?
Example of bot scam from https://www.security.org/digital-safety/scams/chatbot/
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Fortunately—or unfortunately—the solution is simple. There are no secrets, and you don’t need special training. I’ve come up with a few rules for myself that I believe can help avoid becoming a victim:
I don’t click on links in emails or text messages. Not at all. If necessary, I verify the link using a trusted service.
We have a family code phrase. If I suspect I’m being scammed, I ask a question only my wife or mom can answer. This question and answer are completely made up and not documented anywhere.
If I receive an offer that seems too good to be true, I search for it online and wait a day or two. I discuss it with friends. This gives me time to study the offer, and with a calm mind, I’m more likely to spot inconsistencies. Moreover, if it’s a scam, fraudsters will likely move on to their next target in a couple of days. The key is not to rush!
CONCLUSION
The golden rule of protection against AI fraud is simple: don’t rush. Stay vigilant, verify information, and trust your instincts. Only then can you avoid falling into the traps of a world where deception is becoming increasingly sophisticated.
Thanks, mate!