To spot an AI-generated image in a scam, look at what the image is asking you to believe, then verify that claim through a channel the scammer doesn’t control. Scam images are built to make one thing feel true: this person is real, this celebrity endorses this product, this disaster needs your donation, this investment is paying off. Check the image with a reverse search and an AI detector, but the step that stops most scams is independent verification: calling the real company, finding the real charity, or getting the real person on a live call.
How criminals use AI images #
The FBI has listed the ways criminals use generative AI to create images for fraud (FBI IC3):
| Scam use | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Fake social media profiles | Realistic faces for romance, investment and phishing accounts |
| Fake identification | Driver’s licenses or law enforcement, government or bank credentials |
| “Proof” photos in private chats | Pictures sent to convince you the person is real |
| Celebrity or influencer promotions | Famous faces endorsing counterfeit products or goods that never ship |
| Disaster and conflict images | Scenes used to collect donations for fake charities |
| Market manipulation | Images used to move prices or hype an asset |
| Extortion | Fabricated compromising images of a victim used to demand payment |
The money involved is large. People reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024 in FTC data, with investment scams the biggest category at $5.7 billion, followed by imposter scams at $2.95 billion (FTC). Not all of that involves AI images, but fake profiles and fake endorsements feed directly into both of those categories.
Scam by scam: what to check #
Fake profiles #
Romance, “wrong number,” job and investment scams all start with a profile. AI faces are popular because reverse image search can’t find them. Look for a thin account history, flawless portraits with nothing casual, and details that drift between photos. How to spot an AI-generated profile picture and checking a dating match cover this in depth.
Fake IDs and credentials #
A scammer claiming to be a police officer, bank employee or government agent may send a photo of a badge or ID card. Don’t verify the person using anything they sent you. Look up the agency or bank’s official number yourself and call it. Real agencies don’t ask for payment in gift cards or crypto.
Celebrity endorsements #
Ads showing a famous person holding a product, or a news-style article with a celebrity “revealing” an investment, are a classic pattern. Check the celebrity’s own verified accounts and a real news outlet. If a well-known person truly endorsed something, you’ll find it there. If you only find it in ads, it’s almost certainly fake.
Disaster and charity appeals #
After a hurricane, earthquake or war, emotional images circulate with donation links. Before giving, find the charity yourself rather than clicking the link in the post, and check it with a charity evaluator or your country’s charity regulator. How to check if a viral photo is real walks through verifying the image.
Investment “proof” #
Scammers send photos of cash, luxury purchases, or screenshots of trading dashboards with huge gains. Generated or edited images are easy to make and prove nothing. Any investment that comes with an unsolicited contact, guaranteed returns and pressure to act fast is a scam, whatever the pictures show.
Extortion with fabricated images #
If someone threatens to share a fabricated compromising image of you unless you pay, don’t pay and don’t engage further. Keep the messages, report the account to the platform, and report it to the FBI at ic3.gov in the US or to your local police. Paying rarely ends the demands.
A quick check for any suspicious image #
- Ask what the image wants you to do. Donate, invest, click, pay, trust. The more urgent the ask, the more scrutiny it deserves.
- Reverse search it. Stolen real photos turn up quickly. See reverse image search vs AI detector.
- Run an AI check. Expose AI works from your phone’s share sheet: long-press the image in your messaging app, browser or social app, share it to the app, crop away any interface, and get Likely real, Uncertain or Likely AI-generated with a confidence meter. The image is analyzed on your phone and never uploaded, which matters when the picture came in a private conversation. With Pro, batch check covers up to 12 images at once, useful for a whole profile or a set of “proof” photos.
- Verify through a separate channel. Call the company, charity, bank or agency using contact details you found yourself. Ask the person for a live video call.
- Talk to someone. Scammers rely on isolation and urgency. A friend who isn’t emotionally involved often spots the problem immediately.
A “Likely real” result doesn’t make a scam legitimate. Scammers use real photos too, stolen or taken out of context. The image check is one filter, and the verification step is the one that counts.
Protect yourself before it starts #
The FBI’s advice for AI-enabled fraud includes practical steps (FBI IC3):
- Agree on a secret word or phrase with family, to verify their identity if someone calls or messages claiming to be them in trouble.
- Limit what’s public on your social accounts, including photos and voice recordings.
- Look for imperfections in images and video, like distorted hands or unrealistic features.
- Hang up and call back on a number you know when someone claims to be from your bank or a relative.
- Never send money, gift cards or crypto to people you’ve only met online.
Where to report #
- In the US: ReportFraud.ftc.gov for scams, and ic3.gov for internet crime.
- Elsewhere: your national consumer protection agency or police cybercrime unit.
- On the platform: report the account or ad so others don’t see it.
Frequently asked questions #
Are scammers using AI images? #
Yes. The FBI has warned that criminals use AI-generated images for fake profiles, fake IDs, fake celebrity endorsements, fake charity appeals and extortion. AI makes it faster to produce convincing images that reverse image search can’t trace.
How can I tell if a celebrity endorsement is fake? #
Check the celebrity’s own verified accounts and reputable news coverage. Real endorsements are usually announced publicly. An endorsement that only exists in social media ads, especially for investments, supplements or giveaways, is almost always fraudulent.
What should I do if I already sent money? #
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately, since some transfers can be stopped or disputed if you act fast. Then report the scam to the FTC and IC3 in the US, or your local agency, and keep all messages and images as evidence.
Can an AI detector prove something is a scam? #
No. A detector can tell you whether an image is likely generated, but scams use real photos as well. Independent verification of the person, company or charity is what tells you whether the offer is real.