In a conversation with popular YouTube scam baiter Kitboga, the issue of deepfakes and AI in scamming is discussed. Scammers are increasingly using AI technology to create realistic bots that can conduct fraudulent activities. Generative AI, capable of creating fake video and audio content, is being utilized by scammers to commit financial fraud and identity theft, resulting in predicted losses of $40 billion annually by 2027. However, a group of content creators, computer engineers, and fraud fighters are using AI technology to combat these scams, sometimes wasting fraudsters’ time with AI technology or working with financial institutions to integrate AI into their fraud detection systems.
Kitboga, a fraud-fighting vlogger and content creator, utilizes a generative AI chatbot to combat scammers. By training the AI model to respond to scammers and even potentially steal their information, Kitboga is able to clone himself and release an army of scam-baiting soldiers to target fraudsters. While Kitboga and his team have achieved success in raising awareness about scams and wasting scammers’ time, they are also taking more aggressive actions to target fraud rings and shut down phishing operations.
Another fraud-fighting AI entity, Daisy, was created by UK telecommunications company O2 to deter scammers by using an AI chatbot with the voice of an employee’s grandmother. By deploying Daisy to interact with scammers and providing fake information or keeping them on the phone, O2 aimed to raise awareness about scamming tactics and promote reporting fraud calls to the UK hotline 7726. While Daisy served as a prototype to explore AI-assisted fraud fighting, the company recognized the need for a larger scale operation to effectively combat fraud.
In Australia, the AI-driven platform Apate is making strides in automatically intercepting and disrupting scam operations through fraud detection intelligence solutions. With a vast network of AI bots programmed to engage scammers across multiple channels and steal their tactics and information, Apate works with banks and financial institutions to enhance their fraud detection capabilities. By diverting calls to AI bots and extracting data to set traps for scammers, Apate is actively combating financial malfeasance at a large scale.
While efforts like those of Kitboga, Daisy, and Apate are making headway in using AI to fight against fraud, the rapid advancement of AI technology also enables scammers to conduct more sophisticated scams. Researchers have demonstrated how voice-assisted AI agents can autonomously carry out common scams, highlighting the need for policymakers, companies, and individuals to be aware of AI’s impact on fraud. As the battle between AI fraud fighters and fraudsters continues, businesses and organizations are urged to implement stronger anti-fraud cybersecurity measures to protect consumers from financial scams perpetrated by AI.
