Unraveling an AI-Powered Copyright Infringement Scam: A First-Hand Experience
Summary:
An intricate scam involving artificial intelligence targeted the editor of a Cointelegraph article, alleging a copyright infringement. The scam, fronted by a non-existent law firm and representatives, demanded a backlink to their website. The editor conducted an investigation, identifying AI-generated images and content as hallmarks of this scam. While the end motive remains uncertain, it presents the possibility of attackers stealing emails and passwords for potential phishing or credential misuse.
A seemingly intricate and artificially intelligent scam recently targeted me, posing as a law firm asserting copyright infringement. This firm alleged that a copyrighted image owned by a vague digital currency firm, whose name I won’t disclose, was used in a story on Cointelegraph. Yet, this assumed image never appeared in the said article. Interestingly, a second email landed in my inbox, recreating the same accusations and utilizing the same image, supposedly representing an identically obscure, AI-based crypto entity.
The scammer raised an ultimatum that Cointelegraph had to link to its website — a well-known practice rewarded by Google through increased online visibility. This aims at deceiving occupied news editors to offer links to their fraudulent website.
According to "Alicia Weber," an alleged representative of "Nationwide Legal Services", I would face a copyright lawsuit if I did not provide a link to her website within five days. Peculiarly, the supposed "law firm" is hosted on a ".site" domain — the first indication of a potential scam. Weber insisted that removing the image alone could not resolve this issue; I had to include a link to the mentioned organization.
I decided to investigate further, which led to the discovery that Weber was a fabricated persona. The suspiciously AI-crafted images of Nationwide’s lawyers, a characteristic trait familiar to those in the crypto world, were a dead giveaway. The same unreal attributes, such as dream-like glows and glassy eyes, were visible in the headshots of the unspecified crypto firm's team.
Interestingly, the other counterfeit firm was candidly upfront about its artificial nature - with its website proclaiming it's an "AI-Generated Cyborg Team.” Despite the websites looking somewhat professional and brimming with AI-created content, they turn out to be nothing more than well-crafted scams.
Ironically, the scheme of a non-existent AI entity threatening over copyright infringement comes up as evocative, given the AI industry is known for its copyright infringement lawsuits. This incident certainly marks a significant change from the typical phishing scams on platforms like Twitter, where bots share easily identifiable deceitful links.
This scam, although involving a laborious process, does not yield an outright end game. There's no provision for clients to link their crypto wallets, ruling out the typical wallet-draining scams. The con artists could potentially be stealing emails and passwords to either use those credentials on other websites or implement a phishing trickery.
While I fed an email into both websites to solve this mystery, it remains unresolved, as nothing significant had followed. The meticulously laid deception fails to deliver its end, leaving one wondering about the motive behind such an enterprise. Perhaps, only time will elucidate the purpose of this endeavor.
This information is solely for general purposes and should not be construed as legal or investment advice. The viewpoints, notions, and opinions here only depict the author's perspective and do not essentially mirror or denote the standpoint and opinions of Cointelegraph.
Published At
11/6/2023 7:39:20 PM
Disclaimer: Algoine does not endorse any content or product on this page. Readers should conduct their own research before taking any actions related to the asset, company, or any information in this article and assume full responsibility for their decisions. This article should not be considered as investment advice. Our news is prepared with AI support.
Do you suspect this content may be misleading, incomplete, or inappropriate in any way, requiring modification or removal?
We appreciate your report.