Check the business, not the shop window
Shops that look perfect
AI tools generate product photos, descriptions and whole storefronts quickly, often for heavily discounted branded goods, festival tickets or holiday rentals. Warning signs: prices far below everywhere else, a domain registered very recently, no real address or company details, payment only by bank transfer or crypto, and social media adverts as the only way in. Search the shop's name plus "scam" or "reviews" on a separate site before paying.
Reviews in bulk
AI can write hundreds of varied, natural-sounding reviews in minutes, so star ratings and review counts are easier to fake than ever. Look for patterns rather than single reviews: lots of five-star reviews posted in a short burst, vague praise that never mentions details, and reviewers with no other history. Independent review sites and forums with long-standing accounts are more useful than reviews on the shop itself.
Fake customer support
Searching "[company] phone number" can turn up adverts and pages run by scammers posing as support for banks, airlines, delivery firms or tech companies. They may ask for remote access to your computer or for payment to "fix" a problem. Find support details by going directly to the company's own website or app, and never let someone who called you take remote control of your device.
Apps that pull at your feelings
Some apps are marketed as an "AI friend" or "AI companion". Underneath, they are software designed to hold attention, sometimes by imitating closeness and then nudging you to pay for upgrades, buy gifts or share personal details. The same pattern appears in romance scams run by real people with AI help. Any relationship, real or artificial, that pushes you to send money is a reason to stop and talk to someone you trust.
When you buy from a website you have never used before, what do you check first?