AI-Powered Gambling Scams: A Warning to Online Gamblers
Warnings Issued on Deceptive Artificial Intelligence Gaming Applications by Cybersecurity Experts
The cybersecurity world is abuzz with a new threat—AI fake betting scams aimed at unsuspecting online gamblers.
These crafty scams lure users into downloading fraudulent gambling applications that pilfer both their sensitive information and hard-earned money.
Discovered by the Group-IB CERT team, this vast global fraud network spans over a thousand websites and 500 advertisements, targeting people from various regions. The scam began predominantly in Egypt, but with AI technology reducing the cost of expansion, it's now raging across the globe, targeting countries like those in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), Europe, and Asia, using different languages.
Amplified Reach
As mentioned in the report, while most ads detected are concentrated in Egypt, they have found their way to other regions as well, employing the same underhanded methods in various languages.
One of the key strategies of these scammers is the use of AI-generated voices in multiple languages, making the advertisements appear local and trustworthy, regardless of where the scam is taking place.
A Greedy Menace
Alongside impersonating renowned local financial and gambling institutions, these malicious applications also spread like wildfire through an avalanche of fabricated reviews on social media platforms and fake review sites. The report warns about these fake testimonies, stating they often feature captivating narratives, screenshots, and even photographs of supposedly "successful" players creating a false impression of a highly profitable and trustworthy game.
Stay Away from Scams, Keep your Money and Data Safe
These enticing ads have gone viral across social media platforms, taking advantage of their low cost of entry and the lack of thorough vetting for ads on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
In the course of their investigation, Group-IB found that victims have suffered losses amounting up to $10,000, excluding the potential value of the stolen personal data, in danger of being used for identity theft and other fraudulent activities.
To protect yourself against these attacks, Group-IB suggests the following precautions:
- Steer clear of dubious downloads: Research app developers and download apps only from trusted sources like Google Play or Apple App Store.
- Reject third-party APK files: Avoid installing third-party APK files without vetting their authenticity via an official portal.
- Be wary of overly enticing promises: If an offer appears too good to be true, it often is. Always verify the authenticity of the app.
By adhering to these guidelines, you can reinforce your defense against malicious AI-powered gambling scams.
- The use of AI-generated voices in multiple languages by scammers, as highlighted in the report, allows them to target users globally, creating a false sense of local trustworthiness for their fraudulent casino-and-gambling applications.
- To safeguard themselves from AI-powered gambling scams, online gamblers are advised to steer clear of dubious downloads, avoid third-party APK files, and verify the authenticity of apps, as recommended by the Group-IB report, thus reinforcing their cybersecurity against such threats in the technology realm.
