Merseyside shoppers have been warned that criminals are now using AI to create realistic online scams.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued the warning as new data reveals the UK is vulnerable to online scams.
Scams in the past could once be noticed by bad grammar and suspicious email addresses. However. AI tools enable fraudsters to generate more convincing emails and websites.
Research by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) discovered that between November and January last year, people in the UK lost £10.6m to online scammers.
Michael Klonowski, chief executive of the Cyber Hub Trust, a charity promoting Cyber security, said: “Black Friday’s sole purpose is for people to spend money and from November to January, there are loads of adverts with deals.”
Black Friday deals, traditionally available only on the day itself, are now available for a much longer period, many lasting weeks.
Michael added: “It’s a time where people are more likely to click on deals, they wouldn’t of six months ago.”
Figures have also revealed that young people are the most vulnerable to cybercrime and are more likely to become victims of online scams.
Michael explained: “Young people have grown up with the technology and are used to it. What they are not used to is cybercrime, so they are more likely to jump into a scam without thinking.” This is especially true if it is on social media.
The NFIB’s research highlighted that accounts on social media such as TikTok and Instagram have become the most likely medium for online shopping scams.
Michael leads Cyber Hub Trust promoting the education of digital technology and the importance of cyber security to young people.
He explained: “As a society we have always required police or soldiers to take care of us, there are bad people we need to be protected from. Cyber security is doing that job for us, just online.”
If something seems too good to be true it is too good to be true
The Trust tours colleges across the UK including Liverpool, to speak on a range of challenges, experiences and competitions which are set up by the trust to keep young people safe online.
He said that nowadays criminals are invisible and advised that people should be more aware and think like a criminal would think when finding good deals over the festive period.
He added: “If something seems too good to be true it is too good to be true.
“If you walked past something in a store at a completely different price point to what it usually is, in the back of your head you would be weary that is exactly you should be thinking when it comes to an online deal.”
The NCSC has launched a nationwide Cyber Awareness campaign to help shoppers stay safe. They recommend creating separate passwords for email accounts and setting up 2-step verification.
To find out more about staying safe online check out their guidance here.
Featured image (c) Kate Farley
