Don't fall for this - how to protect yourself from AI scams
Trading standards officers say AI is "super-charging" existing scams through clones and fake websites.
The warning against AI scams urges shoppers to exercise caution when making purchases online. Fraudsters are utilizing artificial intelligence to create convincing fake retailers, often pretending to be family-owned businesses that sell quality UK-made products. These fraudulent websites may feature images of UK High Streets adorned with Union Jack flags.
When a purchase is made, the product may either fail to arrive or be a low-quality, mass-produced item from countries like China, according to trading standards officers. The growing use of AI-generated images, voice cloning, and deepfake videos is making it easier for scammers to trick people out of their money.
For the first time, National Trading Standards has compiled an AI scam watchlist, detailing the tools and techniques criminals employ. These include polished and professional websites generated rapidly and inexpensively, romance scams where AI is used to mimic victims' personal details and maintain conversations over extended periods, deepfake videos and voice-cloned audio to impersonate family members or close friends requesting money during emergencies, and AI-generated phishing emails, text messages, and social media posts in large quantities.
Consumer group Which? notes that some traditional scam-avoidance techniques may now be less effective due to AI's advantages. Typos or grammatical errors, once reliable indicators of scams, are no longer dependable. To protect oneself, trading standards recommend not sending money, gift cards, or personal or financial information to someone not met in person.
They advise conducting research, such as verifying a shop's address, checking the Financial Conduct Authority's Firm Checker for financial advice authorization, and contacting a business directly to confirm the legitimacy of a job advertisement. Additionally, they stress not assuming someone is genuine simply because their voice or video call appearance is familiar.
Overall, they urge individuals to pause, think carefully before paying, sharing personal information, or taking action. Pressure or urgency should be a red flag, as scammers aim to compel quick actions without ample time for contemplation. Fraud and scams can be reported to Report Fraud or by calling 0300 123 2040, or one can seek advice from the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline at 0808 223 1133.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
