Мошенники используют искусственный интеллект для продажи несуществующих семян цветов

Artificial intelligence is generating its fair share of controversy, and it's paving the same path within the plant seed world. Fraudsters are selling seeds for "obviously fake AI slop," as 404 Media (1) puts it, or supersized flowers that don't exist at all. And the scam is impacting consumers looking to buy seeds on popular online retail platforms like Amazon, eBay and Etsy. The primary fraud strategy lies in luring buyers with images of stunningly picturesque AI-generated images on digital retail outlets, promising quick deliveries, and then either shipping fake seeds or no seeds at all. The kicker? Since seeds take weeks to grow, buyers are out of luck with returns, as the window to make one closes within 21 days, Shlomi Beer, co-founder and CEO at ImpersonAlly, a fraud prevention services company, told Moneywise. And online retail sites are starting to catch on. eBay recently canceled a phony seed listing (1) channel for roses that had totaled 37,271 sales, while "teddy bear" sunflowers (2) continue to be listed. In a statement to 404 Media, eBay said its "trust is foundational" and that it would accelerate efforts to root out fraudsters. The online retailer also said it's using AI-based tracking tools and compliance audits to thwart seed-sale scammers. Exploitation of data is increasing too, as concerns about generative AI grow, ad fraud experts say. "The data exploitation problem is getting worse because Gen AI is making it easier for scam artists to produce images of non-existent items at no expense," Burkan Bur, managing director of The Ad Firm, told Moneywise. If scammers obtain your payment information through a sale (3), it's unclear whether it will be used for other fraudulent activity. What's behind the seed scam With digital seed scams, the trick lies in AI technology that allows fraud artists to create seemingly impossible, uniquely shaped flora that, to the naked eye, look all too real. Fraudulent seed images can include everyday flowers like roses (4), tulips and orchids, as well as more exotic, even otherworldly flowers like galaxy dahlias, glowing blue roses and multicolored hostas. "AI has lowered costs to creating these fake images, and there is no need for photography equipment, shooting staff or editing," Beer told Moneywise. A big part of the problem is that it's easy and cheap to create variations from original images in minutes. "The fact that fraudsters base themselves in real images and modify them using AI makes it easy to do trial and error on what works and what doesn't," Beer noted. "Fake seed is effective since they have a delayed verification. By the time reality catches up, sometimes months have passed, making refunds or chargebacks impossible."