The Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR) has issued a warning about the rise of investment scams that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to create convincing but fraudulent pitches. The DFR highlighted the following points:
Key Takeaways:
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Scammers Utilize AI: Fraudsters are using AI tools to craft fake investment offers, websites, videos, and messages that seem legitimate.
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Common AI-related Scams:
- Deepfakes and Impersonation: Creating realistic videos of trusted figures promoting bogus investments.
- AI Trading Schemes: Promoting fake AI trading systems with fabricated results.
- Voice-Cloning Scams: Using cloned voices to mimic acquaintances’ investment recommendations.
- Romance Scams: Using AI-generated profiles to build relationships and solicit investments.
Consumer Protection Tips:
- Take Your Time: Don’t let urgency influence your decisions.
- Verify Credentials: Check that the investment offer is connected to a registered person or company.
- Conduct Independent Research: Look up the investment and those promoting it through reliable channels.
- Don’t Rely on AI Alone: Cross-check information obtained from AI tools.
- Double-Check Communications: Contact any acquaintance who has supposedly reached out to you about investments through reliable methods.
Reporting and Recovery:
If you think you’ve been targeted by an investment scam, report it to DFR, the Oregon Department of Justice, or the Federal Trade Commission. DFR also cautioned against recovery scams offering to reclaim lost investments, which can further deceive victims.
For support, contact DFR at 1-888-877-4894 or email at dfr.financialserviceshelp@dcbs.oregon.gov.
