'I handle fraud cases daily, but this terrifyingly clever AI scam still robbed me'

'I handle fraud cases daily, but this terrifyingly clever AI scam still robbed me' According to Monzo, scams are also becoming more frequent with the use of AI, especially when it comes to ticket sales Online scams represent a massive crisis in the UK, with criminals stealing more than £1.3 billion every year. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that over four million incidents of fraud occur each year, with up to 87% of all scams originating online or via the phone. The technology has become so terrifyingly accurate that even financial professionals are falling victim. Chazzy Wood, a 42-year-old finance worker from London, who handles fraud cases daily, was conned out of £300 while trying to sell a jacket on Vinted. After an interested buyer bought it, she received an email which she thought was from Vinted, claiming she needed to verify her bank details to release the payment. "The email said if I didn't confirm my details I wouldn't receive the payment, so I clicked the link in the email and started inputting my details," Chazzy told the Mirror. "I I could tell the wording sounded like it was generated by AI such as Claude or ChatGPT but I went ahead with it as I know a lot of places are using AI more these days. "It asked me for my bank details, card number, expiry date but it was through a platform that cloned Truelayer, an open banking platform I am aware of through my job. I had no reason not to believe it as it's one of the vendors a lot of financial institutions use for banking." As soon as she entered her details, £300 was taken from her account. While she managed to claw back £200 from her bank, the experience has left her shaken. She said she'll never click an external email link again, and has urged people to only ever provide details through strict in-app channels. She said: "I just thought there is no way a scammer is using open banking platforms that banking professionals use, which makes me think it's AI. I was so shocked, it all happened so quickly. I know that everyone uses chatbots these days and AI to support services but I just couldn't believe it. It's annoying how clever these scams are." It comes as new research from Monzo shows ticket fraud is a growing epidemic. Nearly one in three ticket scam victims only discover they have been defrauded when they reach the venue gates, after spending up to £1,295 on travel, hotels, outfits, childcare and time off work. As the UK enters a massive summer of music with Harry Styles taking over Wembley for 12 nights and Olivia Dean headlining at the O2, Tom Stead's story serves as a stark warning. After being burned by a ticket scam once before, Tom thought it would never happen to him again. Sadly, the 35-year-old was proven wrong earlier this year, falling victim to a highly sophisticated fraud that left him £720 out of pocket for Taylor Swift tickets. Tom's first encounter with scammers happened at a Kylie Minogue concert, where his premium tickets turned out to be fake. "When we arrived, the venue staff told us the tickets simply didn't exist," Tom said. "We ended up having to downgrade to standard entry just to get in because we couldn't prove we’d paid for the premium experience, causing another financial hit. To be turned away from the venue was devastating. "You look forward to seeing your favourite artist for months and often put effort into additional purchases that come with it such as new outfits, hotels, planning transport - so to have our tickets rejected at the door created an additional impact beyond the cost of the ticket itself." Hoping for a better experience earlier this year, Tom forked out £720 via bank transfer for six Taylor Swift tickets. This time, he thought he safe as he hadn't just relied on a random social media listing, and was put in touch with the seller by a trusted acquaintance who had bought tickets from them before. It turned out that Tom had actually purchased tickets from them for a show in 2024, so he had zero concerns. Ahead of the event, the seller regularly messaged via WhatsApp and email with face-value offers for upcoming concers and sports events, and asked them to spread the word to friends. But as the concert date approached, red flags started to appear. "I was constantly chasing the seller for weeks, and they kept making excuses," Tom said. "Then, the day before the show, she completely fell silent. The tickets never arrived." Because the scammer dragged out the ruse until the last-minute, Tom and his friends missed the free cancellation window for their accommodation. So while his bank eventually refunded the tickets, the hotel money was gone forever. Tom said: "It was incredibly upsetting and stressful. Because I arranged the trip for myself and my friends, I felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility. We all work hard for our money, and watching it vanish was devastating. According to the new study by Monzo, scams are also becoming more frequent with the use of AI. It found that 42% of people scammed via social media were convinced by unofficial ticket sellers because scammers used sophisticated AI tools (such as image generation, AI-generated voice notes, and sophisticated profiles). While over half of Brits (53%) admit they are not confident they can spot a fake ticket seller online. Looking back, Tom said he will never buy from an unofficial seller again but said with ticket prices being so high nowadays, "it's completely understandable why people look for better offers elsewhere, but the risks just aren't worth it." Rich Bromley, Director of Fraud at Monzo, said scammers know how to emotionally trap their victims. He said: "Fraudsters are really good at playing on the fear of missing out. They know how much these events mean to fans, and they’re increasingly using tech like AI to exploit it. "What’s really tough is that people aren't just losing the ticket money, they’re losing the money they spent on hotels, travel, childcare and ultimately, the experience of seeing their favourite artist. "Whether it’s Harry Styles or headline festivals, we want everyone to enjoy a summer of music without the fear of being scammed - which is why we’ve created the checklist as a tool for customers to pause, reflect and consider before purchasing tickets through an unverified seller.” He warned people before buying tickets, to never buy from a direct message on social media. "If someone you've never met is offering tickets through social media messages, walk away. "Fake profiles and posts can look incredibly authentic, which makes it more difficult to separate genuine sellers from scammers. Legitimate artists, venues and promoters use official resale and ticket transfer platforms - not direct messages." He also explained that criminals will always insist you pay them directly via bank transfer "which offers little protection if something goes wrong," Richard said. "Always pay by card through an official website, where you may benefit from additional security and purchase protections. If you pay someone by bank transfer, it's like handing them cash - and very hard to get back once it's sent."