Sophisticated and difficult to detect scams using artificial intelligence (AI) are leaving victims facing severe financial issues and long-term debt, according to Advice NI.
The charity, an independent network offering advice on issues including debt, warned thousands of scam victims in the north were also going unsupported in debt recovery,
Recent data from PSNI revealed 5,412 reports of fraud amounting to approximately £23.1 million in losses were reported from December 2022 to January 2023.
Sinead Campbell, head of money, debt, and quality at Advice NI, said these figures “only scratch the surface given how rarely incidents of fraud are reported”.
She added: “We have seen 167 cases of fraudulent debt, worth a total £1.6 million, reported over the last three years.
“This equates to only 10 per cent of victims, with an average loss of just under £10,000 per person, reaching out for debt advice and financial support.
“These are life-changing amounts of money, which thrust people into long-term debt and severe financial hardship, not to mention the significant emotional impact.
“The latest scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with criminals leveraging AI to mimic the language of national debt lines and even impersonate debt collectors,” said Ms Campbell.
She described this new wave of AI-driven fraud as “designed to intimidate and deceive victims with alarming precision”.
“It is understandable people might feel ashamed or embarrassed, but there’s absolutely no reason to be,” said Ms Campbell.
“It is crucial to understand these scams are designed to be hard to spot, making anyone vulnerable to being caught off guard.”
Bill McCluggage, chairperson of NI Fraud Forum said the public was facing “an epidemic of scams”.
He added: “Fraud now represents 40 per cent of all crimes with criminals targeting individuals via messaging, email and social media.”
He advised anyone contacted out of the blue by someone they did not know, to “take a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information”.
“If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately. You can also report phishing emails by forwarding them to report@phishing.gov.uk or forward scam texts to 7726,” said Mr McCluggage.
Ms Campbell advised anyone who had fallen victim to a scam and facing financial challenges as a result, should “seek support as soon as possible”.
Advice NI can be contacted on the Freephone helpline: 0800 915 4604, between 9.00am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
