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This year, the outlook appears grim as 89% of Australians have expressed concerns about being targeted by scams and fraudulent websites through advertisements from unknown retailers.
Scammers have also resorted to online brand impersonation to trick consumers. By mimicking the identity of well-known brands, these fraudsters aim to deceive unsuspecting shoppers.
The report highlights that luxury brands like Coach, Dior, Ralph Lauren, Rolex, and Gucci are the most frequently impersonated, while mainstream brands such as Apple, Nintendo, Samsung, Disney, and Steam have also been targeted.
Compared to last year, there is a noticeable increase in anxiety, with 60% of Australians now more apprehensive about AI-related scams. Additionally, 38% have reported personal encounters or know someone affected by holiday-sale scams involving deepfakes or fake celebrity endorsements.
“AI has significantly facilitated scammers in replicating trusted brands with such precision and speed that it becomes increasingly difficult to detect,” experts warn.
Compared to last year, 60 per cent of Australians are now more worried about AI scams, and 38 per cent reported they or someone they know has “encountered holiday-sale scams that use deepfakes or fake celebrity endorsements”.
“But AI has made it easier for them to copy trusted brands with speed and accuracy that is hard to spot.”
