Black Friday originated as a post-Thanksgiving sales event but now represents a worldwide retail frenzy. As participation grows, so does the appeal for cybercriminals seeking to exploit the chaos.
Security analysts from the Austrian verification organization Mimikama report a fresh surge in fraud schemes leveraging generative artificial intelligence. These include counterfeit online stores that mimic authenticity, fabricated videos of famous figures, and deceptive outreach through social platforms and SMS. Shoppers from diverse backgrounds are in the crosshairs.
Such deceptions are increasingly hard to spot, thanks to AI models designed for hyper-realism in their outputs.
Fraudsters have adapted their tactics significantly. Using accessible AI software, they can assemble complete e-commerce sites—featuring convincing brand emblems, merchandise photos, and fabricated testimonials—in just moments. These sites often bear a striking resemblance to legitimate retailer domains.
To ensnare buyers, perpetrators apply manipulative tactics like alerts for flash sales or dwindling inventory counts, fostering a sense of haste that prompts impulsive actions.
Deepfake clips pose another major risk, showing public figures endorsing special Black Friday offers for bogus retailers. These visuals are entirely AI-produced, and the depicted individuals are typically oblivious to their misuse.
Those deceived by such content frequently navigate to sham websites or share personal information, leading to financial losses, compromised payment data, or device infections from harmful software. Resources exist to help identify AI-based forgeries.
Mimikama notes that this isn't the work of lone operators but organized groups deploying AI for malicious ends. With these technologies openly accessible and user-friendly, scammers generate thousands of phony storefronts and operations within days.
Social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok frequently lag in responses. Once fraudulent content is removed, the harm is usually irreversible. Similarly, financial gateways and e-commerce hubs often detect irregular payments only retrospectively.
Experts highlight how rapid technological advancements outpace safeguards for online users.
To steer clear of these AI-facilitated tricks during the Black Friday period, watchdogs suggest straightforward yet reliable defensive steps:
This piece first ran in our affiliated outlet PC-WELT, adapted and rendered in English from its German source.