Cybercriminals Rely on AI to Pull Off Shocking Scams!

The number of online scams is rapidly increasing and experts predict that it will continue to grow. Scamwatch, a website that monitors online scams, reported a total of 257,392 cases by October 2023, which is a significant rise from the 239,237 cases reported in 2022. Cybercriminals are now utilizing generative AI tools like ChatGPT to launch campaigns more quickly and make their fraudulent claims appear more convincing, making it easier for them to deceive unsuspecting victims. This was previously a major challenge for cybercriminals.

Speaking to CBS MoneyWatch, Michael Bordash, senior vice president of US telecom company Syniverse, said: “Unfortunately, criminals are getting much better at writing English. ChatGPT is a big help for them in creating messages. You don’t need to be a good English speaker to have ChatGPT write a campaign for you.

ChatGPT can help cybercriminals make even more believable online scams

AI chatbots, such as the popular ChatGPT, can create persuasive messages with well-written and grammatically correct sentences, which can make them appear legitimate. When scammers start using these artificial intelligence tools, it can make such scams even more dangerous.

This means that people will no longer spot scams just by reading language that would normally be full of spelling and grammar mistakes. But that’s not the whole problem. AI tools can also produce messages at breakneck speed.

“They can use ChatGPT to take a campaign they used before and tell it to come up with five versions,” Bordash told CBS MoneyWatch.

So does that mean it’s a losing battle against cybercriminals? Not really. But people need to be more attentive when they receive a lucrative offer via email or messaging app.

How to avoid online scams

1. Online scams often try to create a sense of urgency to distract you from thinking about it. Whenever you receive a message that emphasizes words like “urgent” or “immediately” etc., always take a step back and review the content carefully.

2. Another common trick they use is to offer a lucrative deal. If you get an unreasonably good offer or a lot of freebies, it’s better to call the facility and make sure before proceeding.

3. Never open the link or scan the QR code that comes with such messages. If they are pretending to be from another institution, look online for the same information and see if you can find more information.

4. Under no circumstances should you send your financial information to anyone.

5. And most importantly, report any suspicious or abusive behavior on the platform. This can save you and many others online.