New AI-Powered Sextortion Scam Targeting High-Net-Worth Individuals in US, Expanding to Israel
A sophisticated sextortion scam using AI to manipulate videos is targeting high-net-worth individuals, particularly in relationships, with extortion demands based on fabricated child sexual abuse material. The scam originates from Middle Eastern criminal networks and has primarily affected Americans but is expected to expand to Israel. Cybersecurity experts warn the scheme is highly effective because victims fear reporting it to authorities due to the devastating stigma of false accusations.
According to Ori Segal, CEO of cybersecurity firm Cyvore, criminals are conducting video calls with targets, exposing them to adult content, then using AI to manipulate only the woman's face to appear as a child. Victims then receive extortion messages with manipulated video clips threatening to report them as sex offenders unless they pay. The scammers use social media platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook to identify and psychologically profile high-net-worth targets, selecting individuals with reputations or relationships to protect. Segal noted that the scam's effectiveness stems from the difficulty of proving innocence and the severe social consequences of such accusations, leading most victims to pay rather than seek law enforcement help. He reported a 2,500% increase in phishing attempts and 1,000% increase in credential phishing over the past two years, attributing this to advances in AI technology. The organized criminal groups behind these schemes are theorized to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars through mass-scale reproduction of the scam.
What's missing
The article does not provide information on law enforcement responses, whether any arrests have been made, or official guidance from cybersecurity agencies in either the US or Israel. Additionally, there is no independent verification of the specific statistics cited (2,500% phishing increase, 1,000% credential phishing increase) from sources outside Cyvore.
What different sources said
- The Jerusalem PostRight
Israelis, Americans should prepare for new sextortion scam, expert warns ‘Post’
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