Khaberni - Emotional fraud operations have escalated recently, becoming among the most dangerous cybercrimes on both the psychological and financial scale, as fraudsters combine building a fake relationship and convincing victims to transfer their money or investments to their accounts.
How does emotional fraud happen?
Emotional fraud relies on a specific set of psychological tricks, systematically repeated by fraudsters:
Establishing a trusted identity: Often, fraudsters use attractive photos, whether stolen or created through artificial intelligence, with consistent personal details and ongoing messages.
Moving the conversation off the app: After gaining the victim's trust, fraudsters convince them to move to other platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram, which reduces data protection and exposes their personal information to risk.
The financial request: Fraudsters begin with various requests, from financial assistance for emergencies or travel issues, to fake investments in digital currencies, often with fake pictures of previous profits.
Artificial intelligence increases the danger of fraud
Artificial intelligence technologies have made fraud more convincing by quickly creating fake personal photos, video clips, and audio, making it difficult for victims to distinguish between the real person and the fraudster.
Even video calls are no longer a reliable method for verifying identity, as deepfake technologies can accurately mimic voice and image.
Tips for Protection
Despite the increased risks, users can protect themselves by following simple steps:
Slow down the pace of the relationship: Take your time to get to know the person before moving to other platforms.
Verification of identity across multiple platforms: Use reverse image search, and check the person's presence on different platforms.
Beware of any financial or investment request: Consider it an immediate warning indicator.
Avoid sending intimate photos: Do not send any sensitive content before verifying the other party's identity.
Early reporting: In case of any fraudulent attempt, contact the bank immediately.
