Phishing NewsFeed

FCC Warns of Sophisticated AI-Powered Scams

The article discusses the growing threat of AI-powered scams, including deepfakes, phishing emails, impersonation of public figures, fake identification documents, investment fraud schemes, ransom demands, manipulating voice recognition systems, and creating misinformation campaigns. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has issued a warning about these tactics, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated. To protect oneself from these threats, the article suggests several strategies, including limiting online presence, investing in personal data removal services, avoiding sharing sensitive information, staying vigilant with new connections, checking privacy settings on social media, using two-factor authentication (2FA), verifying callers, watermarking media, monitoring accounts regularly, using strong and unique passwords, regularly backing up data, creating a secret verification phrase, being aware of visual imperfections, listening for anomalies in voice, and not clicking on links or downloading attachments from suspicious sources. The article also emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. By following these tips, individuals can better protect themselves from the risks associated with deepfake technology and related scams.

https://www.foxnews.com/tech/fbis-new-warning-about-ai-driven-scams-after-your-cash

Hong Kong Police Bust AI Deepfake Scam Ring

Law enforcement agencies worldwide are cracking down on cryptocurrency scams, including those involving Bitcoin ATMs, which scammers use to trick victims into depositing funds that cannot be reversed due to the irreversible nature of blockchain transactions. In one notable case, Hong Kong police arrested 31 individuals involved in an AI deepfake scam that defrauded victims of $4.37 million by creating fake online personas using advanced face-swapping technology. The scammers targeted victims in Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, and the United States, and authorities seized approximately $1.28 million in cash, luxury items, and charged five individuals with conspiracy to defraud.

https://bitcoinist.com/authorities-on-rising-crypto-scams-and-ai-fraud/

Phishers Evade Security with AI-Powered Deceit

Experts are warning that social engineering tactics, which use human interaction to deceive individuals, are becoming increasingly sophisticated with the integration of artificial intelligence. According to Jake Moore, a cybersecurity advisor at ESET, this trend is making it more challenging for people to protect themselves from phishing emails that can evade security measures and trick users into divulging sensitive information.

https://nypost.com/2025/01/04/tech/gmail-outlook-and-apple-users-urged-to-watch-out-for-this-new-email-scam-cybersecurity-experts-sound-alarm/

eBay's Demidova Warns on AI-Generated Phishing Scams

Companies such as eBay and British insurer Beazley have warned about an uptick in fraudulent emails containing personal details obtained via artificial intelligence (AI) analysis of online profiles, according to the Financial Times. Cybersecurity experts say these attacks are increasing as AI grows in sophistication, allowing hackers to create targeted phishing scams by scraping victims' online presence and recreating their style and tone. The use of generative AI tools has lowered the entry threshold for advanced cybercrime, with eBay's Nadezda Demidova stating that there has been a growth in polished and closely targeted phishing scams. To combat this, companies are employing AI-powered cybersecurity measures, with 55% of companies using such measures according to a PYMNTS Intelligence report.

https://www.pymnts.com/fraud-attack/2025/ai-fuels-reported-rise-in-polished-phishing-scams/