Shoppers are being warned to exercise extreme caution when choosing where to shop online, as criminals increasingly leverage artificial intelligence to supercharge fraudulent schemes.
Fraudsters are creating highly convincing websites for fictitious retailers, often posing as family-owned businesses selling high-quality, UK-manufactured goods. These deceptive pages frequently feature AI-generated images of British high streets adorned with Union Jack flags to establish false credibility.
According to trading standards officials, consumers who order from these fake outlets are likely to either receive nothing at all or receive cheap, mass-produced items imported from countries like China.
The National Trading Standards has highlighted that AI-generated imagery, voice cloning, and deepfake videos are rapidly becoming common tools used by criminals to defraud the public.
In response to this rising threat, authorities have compiled an AI scam watchlist highlighting the specific tools and techniques currently being deployed by fraudsters.
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