Chatbots have become increasingly popular in recent months, with the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT gaining much attention in November 2022.
Unfortunately, with the rise in popularity, there is an increase in fraudulent activities in the name of ChatGPT.
Scammers are taking advantage of the name to trick people into giving away their confidential information, such as credit card details and email addresses.
Here is the rise of these scams, how they operate, and what steps you can take to stay safe online.
The rise of scammers using ChatGPT:
According to researchers at Palo Alto Networks Unit-42, scammers are seeking to benefit from the popularity of ChatGPT by using wording and domain names that appear related to the site.
From November 2022 to early April 2023, there has been a 910% increase in monthly registrations for domains related to ChatGPT.
Additionally, researchers have observed a 17K% growth of related squatting domains from DNS Security logs. Scammers are also creating fake ChatGPT sites that closely mimic the official website, with the aim of tricking users into downloading malware or sharing sensitive information.
The operation of ChatGPT scams:
Despite OpenAI providing a free version of ChatGPT, scammers are targeting people, claiming they need to pay for these services.
Some people are using fake websites that look like ChatGPT to trick others into giving away their personal information, like credit card numbers and email addresses.
This is called social engineering and it can be used to steal someone's identity or money. It's important to be careful and not give your personal information to these fake websites.
Researchers have found many of these fake websites and warn people to be cautious and only use official ChatGPT and OpenAI sites.
Staying safe online:
In order to stay safe online, it is essential to proceed with caution and always access ChatGPT through the official OpenAI website.
It is also important to be wary of any unsolicited emails or messages claiming to be from ChatGPT or OpenAI.
These messages may contain links to fake ChatGPT sites or phishing URLs that attempt to steal your information.
It is also advisable to keep your computer and internet security software up to date and use strong and unique passwords for your accounts.