AI fuels faster, more convincing messaging scams, report finds

Messaging scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated as criminals use AI to imitate trusted people, familiar brands, and everyday conversations. New research by Kaspersky suggests these schemes are succeeding with alarming speed, often convincing victims to hand over money within minutes, according to a recent report by Tech Radar.

Nearly two-thirds of scam victims globally, or 64.5%, believe AI tools played a role in the fraud attempts. In the UK, 54% of respondents suspected criminals used deepfakes or synthetic voices to impersonate relatives, friends, or legitimate organizations. More than 1 in 10 victims completed payments or shared sensitive information within five minutes of initial contact, demonstrating how rapidly these operations unfold. Researchers also found 63% of incidents moved across multiple communication platforms.

The most common scams involved investment opportunities (40%), followed by fake delivery alerts (38%) and brand impersonation schemes (35%). Victims in the UK lose an average of £458.45 per scam, with millennials being particularly vulnerable to investment-related fraud. Security specialists recommend combining caution with technical safeguards, including antivirus software and password managers, to combat these evolving tactics.

Source: Tech Radar