AI Scams Globally: AI Scams in 2020-2025

AI Scams Globally: AI Scams in 2020-2025

From 2020 to 2025, artificial intelligence has dramatically transformed the landscape of online scams, making them more sophisticated, convincing, and difficult to detect. The surge in generative AI tools has enabled scammers to automate and personalize attacks at scale, targeting individuals and organizations worldwide.

Major Types of AI-Powered Scams

Phishing and Smishing

AI is now used to craft highly realistic phishing emails and SMS messages (“smishing”), mimicking the tone, branding, and style of legitimate organizations.

These messages are tailored using data scraped from social media and other online sources, making them much harder to distinguish from genuine communications.

Deepfake Scams

Deepfake technology allows scammers to create convincing fake videos and audio recordings that impersonate real people, such as company executives or loved ones.

These deepfakes have been used in high-profile fraud cases, including a 2024 incident where a Hong Kong clerk was tricked into transferring $25 million after a deepfake video call with supposed senior executives.

The prevalence of deepfake-related identity fraud has surged, with a noted increase of over 1,500% in the Asia-Pacific region between 2022 and 2023.

Voice Cloning

AI-powered voice cloning can replicate a person’s voice with minimal audio samples, enabling scammers to impersonate trusted individuals over the phone and authorize fraudulent transactions.

AI-Generated Social Media Bots

Advanced bots, powered by AI, create and manage fake social media profiles that interact with users, spread misinformation, and promote scams.

These bots can convincingly mimic real users, amplifying the spread of fake news, fraudulent investment opportunities, and phishing attempts.

AI-Driven Investment Scams

AI is leveraged to create fake investment platforms, manipulate stock prices (astroturfing), and generate hype around cryptocurrencies or stocks through coordinated misinformation campaigns.

These scams simulate real-time trading activity and fabricate social proof, deceiving investors into making poor financial decisions.

AI-Generated Images and Documents

Scammers use AI to quickly produce realistic fake images, identification documents, and even explicit photos for blackmail or identity theft purposes.

Credential Stuffing and Synthetic Identity Creation

AI automates the scraping of personal data and the creation of synthetic identities, which are then used to open fraudulent accounts or bypass security systems.

Impact and Trends

AI-powered scams have become more pervasive and damaging, with financial losses from cybercrime reaching trillions annually.

The sophistication of these scams means they often bypass traditional security measures and are harder for victims to spot.

In 2023, 20% of people targeted by imposter scams (many involving AI) lost money, with a median loss of $800.

AI has enabled scammers to scale their operations, personalize attacks, and exploit new vulnerabilities.

Deepfakes, phishing, voice cloning, and AI-driven bots are among the most prominent threats.

Consumer and organizational awareness, along with advanced security measures, are critical to mitigating the risks posed by AI-enhanced scams.

The evolution of AI scams between 2020 and 2025 highlights the urgent need for vigilance and updated cybersecurity practices to protect against these increasingly sophisticated threats.

10 Popular Types of AI Scams

1. Voice Cloning Scams
Scammers use AI to mimic the voice of someone you know, such as a family member or friend, to request money or sensitive information. These scams often create a sense of urgency, making it difficult for victims to verify the authenticity of the call or message.

2. Deepfake Video Scams
AI-generated videos convincingly simulate real people, including celebrities or trusted individuals, to promote scams, solicit donations, or spread misinformation. These videos are often used in social media posts or online ads to trick viewers into taking action.

3. AI-Powered Phishing Emails
AI enables scammers to generate highly personalized and convincing phishing emails that mimic legitimate organizations or people. These emails often contain links to fake websites designed to steal personal information or install malware.

4. AI-Generated Fake Websites
Scammers use AI to quickly create professional-looking but fraudulent websites, often mimicking legitimate businesses or online stores. These sites are used to steal payment information or sell fake products.

5. Romance Scams
AI is used to create fake profiles, generate realistic conversations, and even produce deepfake images or videos on dating platforms. Scammers build trust over time before inventing emergencies to solicit money from victims.

6. Deepfake Video Call Scams
Live deepfake technology allows scammers to impersonate people in real-time video calls, making romance scams, business fraud, or extortion attempts much more convincing.

7. AI-Powered Social Media Bots
AI-driven bots create and manage fake social media accounts that interact with real users, spread misinformation, promote scams, or harvest personal data.

8. Investment Scams
AI is used to generate fake investment advice, create fraudulent investment websites, or impersonate financial advisors, luring victims with promises of high returns.

9. AI-Generated Listings and Marketplace Scams
Scammers use AI to create convincing images and descriptions for fake products or rental listings, tricking buyers into sending money for goods or properties that do not exist.

10. CEO or Business Email Compromise (BEC) Scams
AI is used to impersonate company executives or business partners via email, voice, or video, instructing employees to transfer funds or share sensitive information under false pretenses.

These scams leverage generative AI to create content and interactions that are increasingly difficult to distinguish from genuine communication, making vigilance and verification essential for protection.

AI Scams by Country: Global Trends and Regional Highlights

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the landscape of scams worldwide, with different countries experiencing unique trends and challenges. Here’s a concise overview of how AI-driven scams are manifesting across various regions:

Asia

India: India leads globally in reported encounters with AI-generated voice scams, according to a 2023 survey. The country is also seeing a surge in deepfake and voice cloning scams, where scammers use personal data to make fake calls appear legitimate.

Japan, Thailand, Malaysia: Citizens in these countries remain largely unaware of AI’s role in scams, despite a global uptick in AI-driven fraud.

Philippines & Vietnam: These countries have seen explosive growth in deepfake fraud, with cases rising 4,500% and 3,050% respectively from 2022 to 2023. SMS-based scams are also particularly prevalent in the Philippines.

South Korea: Reports the lowest levels of online shopping scams, but is not immune to other forms of AI-driven fraud.

Africa

Nigeria: Experiencing a sharp surge in AI-powered cyber threats, including e-commerce fraud and job scams. Deepfake incidents in Africa (including Nigeria) surged sevenfold in late 2024, fueled by generative AI making fake identities and manipulated biometric data more accessible. Shopping and investment scams are particularly rampant.

Kenya: High prevalence of shopping scams and significant emotional impact on victims.

Americas

United States: The US has seen a 3,000% increase in deepfake-specific fraud cases in 2023. Voice cloning scams are also on the rise, prompting warnings from banks. The US has one of the highest rates of financial recovery from scams, though the global average remains low.

Brazil: SMS scams are notably widespread.

Europe

Belgium: Deepfake scams have exploded, with a 2,950% increase in cases in 2023.

United Kingdom: AI voice cloning scams are targeting millions, leading to public warnings from major banks. The UK also reports a relatively high rate of scam loss recovery compared to global averages.

France & Germany: Included in global surveys on AI voice scams, though not highlighted for exceptional rates.

Australia & Mexico

Both countries report high rates of identity theft, with a 25% victimization rate.

Common AI Scam Types

Deepfake Scams: Use of AI to create convincing fake videos and voices, often to impersonate executives or loved ones for financial gain. Notable case: a Hong Kong finance clerk defrauded of $25 million via deepfake video calls.

Voice Cloning: Replicating a victim’s or known person’s voice to request money or sensitive information, a growing concern in India, the US, and the UK.

AI-Powered Social Media Bots: These bots mimic real users to spread misinformation, conduct phishing, or manipulate public opinion.

E-commerce and Job Scams: Especially prevalent in Nigeria, with AI-generated fake websites, product reviews, and job offers.

Emotional and Financial Impact

Emotional distress is significant in Kenya, the Philippines, and South Africa, while Japan and South Korea report lower emotional impact, possibly due to cultural factors.

Globally, only 4% of scam victims recover their losses, with the US and UK faring slightly better.

AI Scam Trends by Country

AI scams are rising sharply worldwide, with deepfake and voice cloning scams growing fastest in Asia, the US, and parts of Europe.

The sophistication and accessibility of AI tools are lowering barriers for scammers, making detection and prevention more challenging.

Regional differences exist in scam types, victim awareness, and recovery rates, highlighting the need for tailored prevention and education strategies.

The global nature of AI scams underscores the importance of international cooperation, robust consumer protection, and public awareness to combat this evolving threat.