Beware of AI-Generated Fake Etsy Products

The rise of AI has ushered in a new era of digital deception, and Etsy has become a battleground. Once a haven for handmade treasures, the platform is now inundated with computer-generated images of products that simply don’t exist. 

These AI-generated images are designed to dupe unsuspecting buyers into purchasing nonexistent goods. Fraudsters are mostly peddling things like: fake knitting patterns, design plans, and recipes.  Since products like these are all purchased through digital downloads the criminals are taking advantage of a sneaky loophole: Etsy’s customers are not eligible for a refund under their policies once they have purchased a digital download.

Etsy recognizes the challenge of fraudulent activity and has implemented safeguards to protect its users. While these measures help mitigate risks, it is still mostly reactive.  Their team will investigate scam reports and shut down merchants who are violating the rules, but this is only after the victim has paid for the fake product. 

How to spot these fake products:

• Check the Reviews. Some people who purchased the product may leave a review saying the pictured image was not what they received. Additionally, Etsy has a badge for some shops that shows they frequently receive five-star reviews, which can help weed out fake products as well.
• Look at Multiple Pictures, sometimes, the first photo that pops up for the product may be generated by AI. If you scroll through the other photos of the product, the “real” product may appear.
• Look at the Background of the Product in the Image. Many of these AI-generated images share a common trait: a soft focus on the product with indistinct or nonexistent backgrounds. While this aesthetic may be legitimate, it’s also a telltale sign of AI-generated content. 
• Ask Questions. Most legitimate Etsy sellers are small business owners who are more than happy to answer your questions as long as you are polite and patient. Don’t be afraid to message them before you make a purchase!

The rapid advancement of technology has unfortunately created new avenues for criminals, who exploit these innovations to commit a wide range of offenses. As AI continues to spread across the Internet, it’s important to be able to identify when it is being misused to take advantage of people. 

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/how-ai-scams-are-infiltrating-the-knitting-and-crochet-world/