Cybercriminals will increasingly use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to aid their fraud schemes in the coming year, Dr. Zulfikar Ramzan, Aura’s chief scientist, warned in a report on Thursday.
“In 2024, people should anticipate that this trend will expand to other mediums, as AI makes it easier to duplicate and edit legitimate videos, images, websites, emails and text messages for nefarious purposes,” Dr. Ramzan said. “We can’t blindly trust the content we see online. It’s important to take a moment and look out for the signs that something has been doctored.”
This warning came with Aura’s revelation that AI voice fraud was “the standout scam in 2023.” This scam involves cloning people’s voices and impersonating them to con their friends, family, and others. Cybercriminals only need brief audio clips — like those readily found on social media — to create deceptively realistic voice messages.
Aura’s report also highlighted the top scams of 2023, including schemes that exploited the iPhone 15 hype, the wildfires in Maui, the release of Chat GPT-4, and the excitement around Valentine’s Day.
Top Scams of 2023
According to Aura, tax day scams were the biggest scams of 2023. In April 2023, Aura recorded a staggering 2,700% rise in fraud websites targeting people looking to file their taxes online. Scammers also targeted students with education-related fraud schemes — like student loan scams — rising by 1,181% and peaking in August.
The release of Beyonce’s Renaissance Tour tickets led to a 919% increase in scam websites, while the hype ahead of Apple’s iPhone 15 release saw a 348% spike in fraudulent websites in September.
With a jackpot of $1.25 billion up for grabs, scammers also exploited the interest in the Mega Millions jackpot to scam victims, with a 234% increase in lottery scam text messages. Scammers even took advantage of the MGM casino hack to swindle gamblers. There was a 215% increase in fraud websites related to casinos and gaming in October compared to previous months.
The highly anticipated launch of OpenAI’s GPT-4 inspired scams, too, with a 147% rise in fake Chat GPT websites designed to steal the passwords and email addresses of unsuspecting victims. Criminals also exploited the release of Barbie and Oppenheimer to scam movie lovers, with a 125% rise in movie-related scam sites in July.
Aura reported a 104% increase in fake online stores and bogus deals ahead of Valentine’s Day in February. Scammers also created fake charities and donation sites to exploit the generosity of people looking to support victims of the Maui wildfires, Aura said.
How to Avoid Falling for Online Scams
Cyber scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and widespread. Ahead of the holiday season, cybersecurity experts have warned about a rise in card skimming and shopping scams.
To avoid falling for online scams, we recommend being wary of deals that seem too good to be true and researching any website or app thoroughly before sharing any personal information with them. Read our guide to social engineering tactics to understand how cybercriminals successfully trick their victims.
Basic cybersecurity practices — like using strong passwords and a top-rated antivirus — can also go a long way to protect you from online threats.
Aura compiled its report by analyzing media coverage and social chatter, and collecting data from its Smart Network, a tool designed to block malicious websites.
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