Investment scams are becoming more and more dangerous – This promise should always ring alarm bells

Investment fraudsters have harnessed social media, messaging apps and artificial intelligence to manufacture crimes and search for victims.

Finanssiala ry Fraud prevention expert Sira Nieminen emphasizes that social media is a really common starting point for scams. Fraudsters, for example, make targeted advertisements and buy space for them on social media platforms.

He emphasizes that it is possible to make advertising very targeted on social media. On the platforms, criminals do mapping work.

“There are many discussion groups where victims are sought. The victim is approached via private message. When you switch to Whatsapp or Telegram to a more private side, there is less monitoring.”

When the victim is somehow committed, the conversation continues with private messages. Nieminen emphasizes that the criminal hooks the victim with the promised exclusive service.

“There are personal advisers who can be reached around the clock and are always ready to help,” he describes the setup.

The exclusivity and promises of significant profits should ring warning bells, according to the expert.

“The promise that this offer is only for you is a typical warning sign. We want to create an image of a unique offer for the victim.”

Financial Supervisory Authority lead supervisor Laura Linnavirta points out that criminals use artificial intelligence in countless different ways. This has been noticed in official circles.

“At the turn of the year, European supervisory authorities issued a warning to consumers about artificial intelligence-assisted scams.”

Artificial intelligence is used to create authentic-looking websites or messages and use the logos of other operators. In addition, criminals create facial images and fake voices.

“You may receive a call that sounds like your bank teller or someone close to you.”

Linnavirta warns that the possibilities of artificial intelligence bring scalability to crime.

“Messages can be translated into many different languages ​​at the same time and thus the search for the target group can be expanded.”