Immigration NZ uses data model to predict likely troublemakers among overstayers
Immigration New Zealand has been piloting a data modelling system that uses demographic information such as age, gender, and ethnicity of overstayers to predict which individuals are likely to commit crime or incur hospital debts. The system then targets those individuals for accelerated deportation. Critics, including immigration lawyers and a lobby group, have likened the programme to 'Minority Report' and allege it amounts to racial profiling. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway only learned of the programme on the day of the article and said he would seek a full briefing, but maintained it is not racial profiling and does not breach the Human Rights Act.
- Company involved
- Immigration New Zealand
10 source articles · read the reporting →
California EDD's automated fraud detection wrongly suspended 600,000 legitimate unemployment claims
In January 2021, the California Employment Development Department used Thompson Reuters automated batch review software to flag 1.1 million unemployment claims as potentially fraudulent. EDD stopped payments on those claims without prior notice. Later, over 600,000 were confirmed as legitimate after claimants used ID.me to verify their identity. The incident highlights the trade-off between fraud prevention and timely benefit access.
- Company involved
- California Employment Development Department (EDD)
- AI system involved
- Thompson Reuters Automated Batch Review
7 source articles · read the reporting →
OnlyFake site uses neural networks to generate fake IDs, bypasses OKX verification
An underground website called OnlyFake uses neural networks to generate realistic photos of fake IDs for $15. The journalist tested the service and obtained a convincing California driver's license. They then used another fake ID to successfully bypass the identity verification process on OKX, a cryptocurrency exchange. The article alleges that this technology could streamline bank fraud and money laundering, but reports no actual financial loss.
- Company involved
- OKX
- AI system involved
- OnlyFake
10 source articles · read the reporting →
AI image generators produce misleading election images, study finds
A study by the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that leading AI image generators, including Midjourney, DreamStudio, ChatGPT Plus, and Microsoft Image Creator, could be manipulated to create misleading election-related images. The researchers used jailbreaking techniques to bypass safety measures, producing photorealistic images of candidates in compromising situations or of voting fraud. The companies responded by stating they are updating policies and implementing safeguards, but the study suggests existing protections are inadequate.
- Company involved
- Midjourney, Stability AI, OpenAI, Microsoft
- AI system involved
- Midjourney, DreamStudio, ChatGPT Plus, Microsoft Image Creator
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Hong Kong police arrest eight over deepfake bank account scam
Hong Kong police arrested eight people accused of running a scam ring that used deepfake images to bypass bank verification checks and open accounts. The deepfakes were created by merging scammers' faces with those on lost identity cards using artificial intelligence. The arrests were announced on 19 April 2025.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
NBI raids Makati love scam facility using AI-generated fake female profiles
The National Bureau of Investigation raided a Makati condominium believed to be a love-scam facility, arresting about 100 suspects. The scammers used AI-generated conversations and fake profile pictures of women to trick victims into investing in fraudulent cryptocurrency schemes. Singaporean actor Laurence Pang said he lost S$35,000 after being deceived by such a scheme via the dating site PinaLove in late 2024; the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group confirmed he was a victim. The NBI continues to interrogate a Chinese national said to be the supervisor.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
South Korean police arrest 45 in deepfake romance scam defrauding 12 billion won
A criminal group in South Korea used deepfake technology to create a fictional woman and conducted romance scams via chat apps, defrauding over 100 victims of about 12 billion won. The victims included elderly, disabled, and small business owners. Police arrested 45 individuals and are seeking extradition of suspects abroad.
- Company involved
- Ulsan Police Agency
- AI system involved
- Deepfake technology
1 source article · read the reporting →
Swedish welfare agency's AI system flags marginalized groups for fraud investigations
Försäkringskassan, Sweden's Social Insurance Agency, uses an AI risk-scoring system to flag welfare applicants for fraud investigations. The system disproportionately targets women, individuals with foreign backgrounds, low-income earners, and those without university degrees, according to an investigation by Lighthouse Reports and Svenska Dagbladet. Amnesty International has called for the system to be discontinued, citing violations of the right to equality and non-discrimination.
- Company involved
- Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency)
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Dutch government to refund over 10,000 students over discriminatory DUO fraud algorithm
The Dutch government has pledged to refund over 10,000 students who were unjustly flagged for student finance fraud by a discriminatory algorithm used by the Education Executive Agency (DUO). The algorithm, implemented in 2012, used criteria that disproportionately targeted students from immigrant backgrounds, particularly those of Turkish and Moroccan descent. Following investigations by the Dutch Data Protection Authority and an independent report by PwC, the algorithm was suspended in July 2023 and replaced with a random-sampling system. The government has allocated 61 million euro for refunds.
- Company involved
- Education Executive Agency (DUO)
- AI system involved
- DUO fraud detection system
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs used secret algorithm to score visa applicants based on nationality
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs used a secret algorithm called IOB to score short-stay visa applicants based on nationality, gender, and age. Applicants flagged as high risk were automatically moved to an intensive track with higher rejection rates and delays. The ministry's own data protection officer warned of potential ethnic discrimination, but the system continued to be used. The algorithm has profiled millions of applicants since 2015.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- AI system involved
- IOB
10 source articles · read the reporting →
iBorderCtrl lie detector falsely flagged honest reporter as liar
A journalist testing Europe's iBorderCtrl virtual policeman at the Serbian-Hungarian border gave honest answers but was deemed a liar by the system, scoring 48 out of 100 with four false answers flagged. The Hungarian policeman said the result suggested further checks, though none were carried out. The reporter only learned of the result after filing a data access request under European privacy laws. Experts and transparency activists have criticised the technology as pseudoscientific and potentially discriminatory.
- Company involved
- iBorderCtrl consortium
- AI system involved
- Silent Talker / iBorderCtrl virtual policeman
10 source articles · read the reporting →
AI detectors falsely flag non-native English speakers' essays as AI-generated
A study by Stanford researchers found that seven popular AI text detectors wrongly flagged over half of essays written by non-native English speakers as AI-generated. The detectors assess text perplexity, and non-native speakers' simpler word choices lead to false positives. The researchers warn that this bias could have serious implications for students and job applicants, potentially leading to discrimination.
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Deepfake Trump video scam defrauds over 200 in Karnataka
An AI-generated video of Donald Trump promising quick returns scammed over 200 people across Karnataka, India, costing them more than ₹2 crore. Victims believed they were investing in 'Trump Hotel rentals' and saw fake earnings grow on their app until everything vanished. A police investigation is underway.
4 source articles · read the reporting →
DWP algorithm mistakenly flags 200,000 Housing Benefit claimants for fraud review
The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) uses an algorithm to flag Housing Benefit claimants for possible fraud or error. According to a Big Brother Watch investigation, the algorithm has mistakenly flagged 200,000 innocent people, subjecting them to intrusive reviews. Only one in three flagged cases actually had errors, compared to two in three during the pilot. The DWP has spent £4.4 million on these pointless checks.
- Company involved
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Audit of RisCanvi finds biases and reliability issues in criminal justice system
Eticas conducted an adversarial audit of RisCanvi, an AI risk assessment tool used in Catalonia's criminal justice system. The audit uncovered biases in risk classifications against specific demographics and significant reliability issues. The findings call for fairer practices in criminal justice AI.
- Company involved
- Catalonia's criminal justice system
- AI system involved
- RisCanvi
4 source articles · read the reporting →
UK universities detect deepfake applicants in automated interviews
Some UK universities use Enroly's automated online interviews to screen international student applicants. Enroly detected about 30 cases of deepfake attempts out of 20,000 interviews during the January 2025 intake. The deepfakes used AI-generated images and audio to replace applicants' faces and voices. Enroly stated it caught the attempts using real-time detection methods.
- Company involved
- UK universities
- AI system involved
- Enroly
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Paper Werewolf uses AI-generated decoys and XLLs to target Russian organizations
The threat group Paper Werewolf (aka GOFFEE) is conducting a cyberespionage campaign targeting Russian defense and high-technology organizations. The campaign uses AI-generated decoy documents, such as invitations and official letters, to trick recipients into opening malicious Excel XLL add-ins that deliver a backdoor called EchoGather. The backdoor collects system information and communicates with a command-and-control server. The campaign is ongoing and was first detected in late October 2025.
- Company involved
- Paper Werewolf
- AI system involved
- EchoGather
2 source articles · read the reporting →
UK prison risk algorithm may embed racial bias, experts warn
The Ministry of Justice developed a digital tool to categorize prisoners, which experts and advocacy groups warn could automate and embed racism. The tool uses intelligence data that may reflect existing bias, potentially leading to disproportionate categorization of BAME prisoners. The MoJ claims no evidence of discrimination, but critics question the small trial sample and lack of transparency.
- Company involved
- Ministry of Justice
- AI system involved
- Digital prisoner categorisation tool
5 source articles · read the reporting →
Singapore Firm Defrauded of $499K in Deepfake CEO Video Call Scam
In March 2025, a finance director at a multinational firm in Singapore authorised a US$499,000 payment during a Zoom call that appeared to include the company's CFO and other executives. The call was a deepfake, with AI-generated likenesses and voices. The fraudsters used the impersonation to request an urgent fund transfer for a purported acquisition. The company later discovered the deception and reported it to Singapore police.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Ukrainian Hacker Pleads Guilty to Operating OnlyFake AI ID Scam Site
Yurii Nazarenko, a Ukrainian national, pleaded guilty to running OnlyFake, an AI-powered website that generated and sold over 10,000 counterfeit identification documents globally. The site allowed users to create realistic fake IDs, including driver's licenses and passports, to bypass identity verification at banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. Nazarenko faces up to 15 years in prison and agreed to forfeit $1.2 million. Sentencing is scheduled for June 2026.
- Company involved
- OnlyFake
- AI system involved
- OnlyFake
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Scammers Use AI to Create Fake Joann Fabrics Websites to Steal Credit Card Data
After Joann Fabrics filed for bankruptcy in January 2025, scammers used AI to create impostor websites mimicking the retailer's site. These fake sites offered deep discounts to trick shoppers into providing credit-card information and personal data. Customers who placed orders never received products and had their payment information compromised. The incident highlights the growing use of AI by cybercriminals to create convincing fake websites.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
Man uses AI face-swap to steal 15,996 yuan from financial accounts, sentenced to 4.5 years
A man in Jiangsu, China, illegally purchased 1.95 million personal records and used AI face-swapping software to bypass facial recognition on financial platforms. He accessed 23 victims' accounts, changed five passwords, and used one account to buy two phones worth 15,996 yuan. He was convicted of infringing citizens' personal information and credit card fraud, sentenced to four years and six months in prison, and ordered to pay damages and delete the data.
3 source articles · read the reporting →
Scammers use AI deepfakes to defraud Simcoe County residents of tens of thousands
Scammers are using AI-generated deepfake videos of public figures to promote fraudulent investment schemes, tricking residents of Simcoe County, Ontario, into transferring large sums of money via cryptocurrency. Victims, numbering at least half a dozen, have lost tens of thousands of dollars, with one losing over $100,000. The scammers, who pose as investment representatives, instruct victims to move money to crypto exchanges and then transfer it to untraceable addresses. MP Adam Chambers is calling for greater public awareness and platform accountability.
2 source articles · read the reporting →
SEC charges YouPlus and CEO with defrauding investors
The SEC charged machine-learning startup YouPlus and its CEO Shaukat Shamim with defrauding investors. Shamim allegedly made false statements about the company's revenue and customer numbers, including providing falsified bank statements. The scheme unravelled when Shamim confessed to investors that the company had earned less than $500,000 and had only four paying customers since 2013. The SEC is seeking permanent injunctions, civil penalties, and an officer-and-director bar.
- Company involved
- YouPlus
- AI system involved
- YouPlus machine-learning tool
1 source article · read the reporting →
