New ChatGPT Scam Uses Fake Ads to Trick People
- Identity criminals are using fake ChatGPT ads on social media platforms like Facebook to trick victims into clicking on links that can lead to malware and stolen personal information or online accounts.
- To avoid this ChatGPT scam or other AI-related scams, do your due diligence and use caution on websites. Ensure the URL is not altered, and watch for red flags like a time limit to take an action you are asked to do.
- Also, never click on links in messages you are not expecting, make sure all of your systems are up-to-date so your devices are not vulnerable and report any fake websites to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
- If you believe you fell for a ChatGPT scam or have additional questions, call the Identity Theft Resource Center toll-free by phone (888.400.5530) or live-cat on the company website idtheftcenter.org.
Have you recently received ads on your social media feeds for OpenAI’s ChatGPT? If so, it is likely a ChatGPT scam. (OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, reports that it is not running social media ads.) In today’s digital age, fake ads are becoming increasingly common. Combining that with the rapid evolution in the AI landscape leaves applications like OpenAI’s ChatGPT open to malicious uses and the risk of malware or stolen personal information.
Unsurprisingly, identity criminals are finding new and creative ways to strike. These fake ads can be found on social media platforms, websites and in your email inbox. Also, it is not just fake ads. Bad actors use tools like ChatGPT to spread malware in other ways, including fake websites. While identity criminals may try and trick you with scams, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of falling victim to this crime.
Who Are the Targets?
Website and email users; Facebook and other social media platform users
What is the Scam?
In the ChatGPT scam, identity criminals spread fake software using ads that claim to offer a timesaving way to send queries to the ChatGPT AI system while secretly stealing victims’ online accounts. Fake ads for other popular products can also be found on other websites, like Google and YouTube. Identity criminals use AI tools like ChatGPT to spread malware in other ways, like having it write malware or a phishing email. While ChatGPT has protections in place, bad actors often find workarounds.
What They Want
The criminal’s goal is to trick victims into clicking fake ads to spread malware, as well as steal victims’ personal information.
How to Avoid Being Scammed
- Make sure you are up to date with what is happening with AI services. In the case of ChatGPT, there is no approved mobile app offered by the maker of ChatGPT.
- Only download apps from an official app store offered by major tech companies such as Apple, Google, Samsung, Amazon, etc. If you are ever directed to download an app from an official app store, check its history, reviews and the companies behind it.
- Do your due diligence. It is increasingly difficult to distinguish between real ads and websites from fake ones. To avoid a ChatGPT scam, check website URLs to ensure they are not altered and understand that if an ad pops up on a mainstream platform, it is not proof the ad is legitimate. Take your time on these websites and watch for other red flags, such as a time limit to take an action you are asked to do.
- Don’t click on unknown links. If you receive any messages you are not expecting, ignore them. Do not click on any links that may be included in the message. It can lead to malware and stolen personal information. Instead, go directly to the source (the person or organization who claimed to send the message) to verify the validity of the message.
- Keep your operating systems, apps and browsers up to date using the auto-update feature. The current mainstream web browsers (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, DuckDuckGo) will protect you against many types of phishing attacks and malware. Also, the current generation of Operating Systems (OS) like Windows or iOS offers automatic updates for apps and the OS to patch known flaws as well as protect against malware. Be sure to enable the auto-update feature.
- Report any suspicious ads or links. If you come across a suspicious ad or link, report it to the appropriate authorities. You can report suspicious ads, websites and messages to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Report suspicious text messages to your mobile phone carrier and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
Contact the ITRC
If you have additional questions about the ChatGPT scam, or believe you were a victim of an identity crime, contact us. You can speak with an Identity Theft Resource Center expert advisor toll-free by phone (888.400.5530) or live-chat on the company website. Just visit www.idtheftcenter.org to get started.
How much information are you putting out there? It’s probably too much. To help you stop sharing Too Much Information, sign up for the In the Loop.
