They are becoming more and more frequent..

Yesterday’s Spain / Portugal blackouts haven’t been blamed on AI (yet) — but AI scams are real and they are increasing.

Often they turn out to be the things you least expect them to be…

Have you seen this latest viral trend?

People creating AI action figure dolls of themselves using ChatGPT.

Upload a photo, add your hobbies and favorite accessories, and—voila!—you’re a mini superhero in blister packaging!

Sounds super fun, right?

Well, there’s a catch.

And it’s a big one.

Opening the Door to AI-Enabled Scams

David Norlin, CTO of Lumifi Cybersecurity, recently appeared on Good Morning Arizona and highlighted the serious risks hiding behind these seemingly harmless trends:

•  Personal Data Exposure:
  Uploading your face, your job, your interests—it’s a goldmine for scammers. Especially these kind of trends are making cyberattacks even easier, as you willingly and unknowingly share very personal data.

•  Social Engineering Risks:
  Bad actors can piece together enough information to convincingly scam you, using AI-powered tactics. Criminals now use AI to scale up phishing, financial scams, and even romance fraud.

• Scams are Getting Smarter:
  Thanks to advances in AI (especially AI-generated images and deepfakes), fraudsters can now create highly believable scams at scale. Recently, a Hong Kong employee at Arup was tricked into transferring £20 million during a deepfake video call, where AI-generated imposters mimicked senior executives with chilling accuracy.

How do you protect yourself

It should be self-explanatory.. but sadly it is not and so here’s a quick reminder:

• Don't overshare personal information with AI tools;

• Think twice before uploading images linked to your personal identity;

• Treat AI like a stranger. If you wouldn’t tell a random person on the street your private life, don’t tell an AI system either;

• Be skeptical of “official-looking” communications, especially ones asking for money or personal data;

• Invest in cyber hygiene: Use multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, and consider AI monitoring tools for your business.

Fun shouldn’t come at the cost of your security.

Sure, the AI doll trend is fun, creative, and (let’s be honest) pretty irresistible.
But while we’re busy making mini versions of ourselves, cybercriminals are making moves too—and they’re faster, smarter, and AI-powered. 

Stay curious. Stay creative. But stay cautious.

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