Imagine receiving a perfect voice message from a celebrity asking for financial help for some social cause or finding a website identical to a renowned store offering must-see offers. These are just some of the sophisticated tactics that criminals are adopting through artificial intelligence (AI), to deceive millions of Brazilians daily.
According to a survey conducted on the BrandMonitor platform, between March and May this year, 529 of the 628 brands tracked were identified as having suffered attacks from suspicious domains and in 405 cases, fake websites were created applying scams.The 50 most impacted brands registered an average of 86 fake domains created in a range of only 90 days. The technology that promises to transform the future is now used to sophisticated fraud, creating a digital epidemic that puts consumers and companies on high alert.
One of the main reasons for the growth of AI-driven digital fraud is its versatility, with no limits to the industries and uses it can adopt. Despite the versatility of digital scams, all follow common steps:
- Data collection: Criminals obtain personal and financial data from consumers and businesses through leaks, phishing and malware.
- AI training: With the data collected, AI is trained to identify patterns of behavior and imitate human language in a compelling way.
- Execution: AI automates the scam by creating fake profiles, sending personalized messages, and simulating online activities to trick victims.
According to the global survey on Omnichannel Digital Fraud Trends conducted by TransUnion in 2023, digital fraud attempts have increased by 80% globally since 2019. When combined with AI, these scams become even more sophisticated and convincing for users.In Brazil, the first half of 2024 recorded 800 thousand scam attempts.
Examples of scams in Brazil
In Mercado Livre, for example, criminals create fake profiles with photos and positive reviews generated by robots, inducing buyers to conduct fraudulent transactions. Already in transport companies by application, such as the Uber and 99 Taxi, AI is used to simulate ghost travel, generating undue charges to customers and illicit profits for scammers.
Although the possibilities are varied, some formats of digital scams are more recognized by users, including:
- Personalization of phishing messages: AI analyzes data about the victim, such as purchase history, interests, and online behavior, to create highly targeted messages.This personalization makes it difficult to identify frauds, as the messages seem legitimate and relevant to the recipient;
- Fake virtual assistants: Fake chatbots trick people into providing sensitive information, such as bank details or passwords.Artificial intelligence allows these assistants to respond naturally and adapt to user questions, making them more convincing;
- Deepfakes and voice manipulation: AI is used to create deepfakes, which are fake videos or audios that look authentic. This technology is a growing concern, especially in contexts such as elections, where the spread of false information can have significant impacts.In February this year, the Superior Electoral Court decided to restrict the use of AI in campaigns.
Information and education are essential for the protection against digital fraud. Users need to be more aware of the way these fraudsters act, so that they can have more control over their decisions, thus avoiding the scam and all the inconvenience that comes with it.
In addition, to better understand the breadth of digital fraud driven by artificial intelligence, it is crucial to analyze concrete cases that highlight the impacts of these practices. Some emblematic examples involving large companies in Brazil reveal how these organizations were targeted by sophisticated scams, exploiting vulnerabilities both of consumers and of the brands themselves:
- Free Market: Criminals use AI to create fake profiles with photos and positive reviews generated by robots, inducing buyers to transact with non-existent sellers.In addition, they use AI to create fake product ads, attract buyers and collect personal and financial data.
- Vans: Criminals create fake websites selling Vans products at unrealistic discounts, using AI to personalize those sites and trick consumers.
- Fleury: Phishing scams using AI have misled Fleury Group employees, resulting in the leak of sensitive data.
- ENEM 2024 A fake website imitating the Enem Participant Page led several users to pay the registration fee for the exam, estimated at 85 reais per person.
- Starlink SpaceX's satellite internet company, Elon Musk, is constantly the victim of scams and fraud. In our daily tracking ranking, we found 523 suspicious domains related to Starlink, 152 of them active. About 44% of complaints about the company are linked to fake websites.
AI is also a defense tool
Just as artificial intelligence can be used for scams, it is also a powerful ally to combat them. It is essential to recognize the importance not only of having advanced technology, but also of knowing how to apply it effectively, through sophisticated techniques of pattern detection and behavior analysis.
The epidemic of digital fraud in Brazil, driven by artificial intelligence, is a growing challenge that requires constant attention and coordinated action between companies, government and consumers. Only with information, education and the intelligent use of technology will we be able to stop this wave of digital crime and protect our data and our future.
