‘We detected unusual activity’: the scam that uses AI to exploit your holiday photos

Fraudsters are using AI to exploit holiday photos posted on Instagram or Facebook to craft convincing scam emails and texts that seek bank account details, according to a report by The Guardian Technology. The scam involves messages claiming 'We detected unusual activity while you were travelling in Porto – please verify immediately,' targeting victims shortly after they share travel photos online.

‘We detected unusual activity’: the scam that uses AI to exploit your holiday photos By Shane HickeySource: The Guardian Technology https://www.theguardian.com/us/technology Fraudsters use pictures posted on Instagram or Facebook to create emails seeking bank account details You are on a short break in Porto and post some pictures of your family on Instagram or Facebook. With a small section of the Douro river in the background, you think it could have been taken anywhere. A few days later, you get a text saying that your card was compromised. “We detected unusual activity while you were travelling in Porto – please verify immediately,” says the message. Continue reading... https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/aug/16/scam-ai-holiday-photos-instagram-facebook Get AI news in your inbox Daily digest of what matters in AI.