AI-Generated Fake Images Used in Online Fraud
Many popular websites, including Heise Online, have recently been targeted by an AI-generated fake image that shows Markus Lanz being taken away in handcuffs. The image is meant to entice unsuspecting surfers to click on fraudulent websites. One of the targets of this scheme was the website die-immobilienbewertung.com, which was blocked by Cloudflare, a CDN operator, due to suspected phishing. The website has since been cleared.
This type of scheme is typically carried out by organized gangs who aim to extract personal information about people’s income, property, and bank details. A two-stage attack is used to gain access to people’s accounts via phishing. Others may try to lure people into investing in risky ventures, such as highly speculative cryptocurrencies.
Phishing via ads is made easier by the fact that external service providers play ads on almost all advertising-financed websites. Programmatic advertising is used to select the ads presented based on various parameters, including the interests of surfers and the topic of the page being viewed. Although Heise admins block such questionable advertising when notified, it often reappears with a different URL. This makes it difficult to track and stop the ads.
The only advice left is to not click on suspicious ads. Unfortunately, this type of fraud has caused Markus Lanz, the person depicted in the fake image, considerable distress. He often meets people who assume he was dismissed as a moderator because he was too critical of the government. It’s important for people to realize that these types of fraudulent schemes can happen to anyone and to be vigilant about not giving out personal information or clicking on suspicious links.
