Mystery box scams have flooded social media platforms, and now fraudsters are using AI to legitimise their operations.
Elements such as deepfakes, autogenerated websites, fake reviews, and chatbot-based support are all deployed to con users.
There were over 7,900 reports of mystery box scam emails impersonating major retailers, while 200 fake retail websites have been uncovered.
How it works: AI-powered ad campaigns utilise AI-generated videos, deepfaked influencers, and AI-written comment threads to target users based on behaviour.
Shoppers are taken to fake branded websites with AI-written content.
They may receive a low-value delivery, be enrolled in a subscription scheme, or have their personal data harvested.
AI-powered customer support handles complaints with fake tracking numbers and empty apologies.