AI-Driven Phishing Attacks Surge in Latin America, Harming Millions

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AI-powered phishing attacks have surged across Latin America, with Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic experiencing significant increases in detected cases. Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky attributes the rise to AI-generated deepfakes and automated messaging, enabling large-scale scams and fraud that have harmed individuals through deception and financial loss.[AI generated]

Why's our monitor labelling this an incident or hazard?

The event involves the use of AI systems in the development and deployment of phishing attacks, including AI-generated deepfakes and automated mass messaging via RPA, which directly lead to harm by enabling large-scale scams and fraud targeting individuals. The harms include injury to people through deception and financial loss, fitting the definition of an AI Incident. The report documents actual occurrences and impacts, not just potential risks, thus it is classified as an AI Incident.[AI generated]
AI principles
AccountabilityPrivacy & data governanceRespect of human rightsSafetyRobustness & digital securityTransparency & explainabilityHuman wellbeingDemocracy & human autonomy
Industries
Digital securityFinancial and insurance services
Affected stakeholders
General public
Harm types
Economic/Property
AI system task:
Content generationInteraction support/chatbots

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