Global scammers are using US technology to fleece people, with American-made AI models and internet infrastructure playing a key role in the scam industry. According to an AP/FRONTLINE investigation, technology from American companies is being used to power a revolution in the scam industry, allowing scammers to target victims at unprecedented speed and scale.
How the Scams Work
Scammers use software built with artificial intelligence models from American tech companies to impersonate people and gain the trust of their victims. One scammer, Safeer Mohammed Koorimannil, was trafficked to a scam center in Myanmar and impersonated a 28-year-old Singaporean woman named Ella. He chatted with over 100 people across dozens of profiles at the same time, targeting victims from at least 17 countries.
The investigation found that American-made AI models, such as ChatGPT and Gemini, have been used to build specialized software that allows scammers to seamlessly work across dozens of languages and target victims around the world. The scammers use this software to create fake profiles and build relationships with their victims, eventually asking for money or other forms of payment.
Role of US Companies
US companies, including Cogent Communications, AT&T, DigitalOcean, and Oracle, provide internet infrastructure that supports the scam compounds in Myanmar. The investigation found that one in five signals from devices at four scam compounds linked to sanctioned entities in Myanmar was carried by a US-registered company.
Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, is also being used by scammers in Myanmar. Despite public pressure from Congress and a widely publicized crackdown last fall, Starlink remains the number one internet service provider in Myanmar, including to scam centers.
The AP/FRONTLINE investigation raises questions about how vigorously US tech companies are enforcing their own terms of service, which prohibit illegal activity and, in many cases, explicitly ban fraud. While the companies say they have robust programs in place to proactively disrupt scammers, the investigation found that more needs to be done to prevent the abuse of their tools and tech infrastructure.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
