Experts Warn of Surge in AI-Driven Scams as Eswatini Strengthens Digital Defences
by Ncaba Ntshakala
The second day of the Countering Disinformation and Promoting Digital Transparency workshop brought sharp focus to the escalating threat of digital scams and misinformation,
with experts urging government, media and the private sector to strengthen vigilance as cybercriminals embrace artificial intelligence to execute sophisticated attacks.
Facilitating two sessions, cybersecurity specialist Atlas Yu outlined how traditional fraud methods have evolved into high-speed, high-volume digital operations that now exploit AI tools to deceive individuals, corporations and governments.
Yu began by explaining the “five layers of the gangster”—a model used to understand how scammers target victims. Traditionally, he said, fraudsters relied on slowly building trust, impersonating suppliers or companies, and carefully crafting long-term deception strategies.
He cited major global examples where companies, including Toyota, lost millions due to business email compromise schemes executed through fake invoices.
“Before AI, a scammer might send 20 emails a day. With AI-powered mailing tools, they can send thousands in one day,” Yu said.
He warned that AI is now enabling criminals to create personalised scripts for different targets within minutes, allowing them to tailor fraudulent messages for companies across sectors; automotive, shipping, manufacturing or finance—without the labour-intensive preparation previously required.
Yu also highlighted the rising influence of false audio and video content on political processes, referencing a Ghana election study showing that manipulated media played a major role in shaping public opinion and fuelling unrest through fabricated crime alerts and security rumours.
“This kind of disinformation creates distrust, weakens institutions and spreads fear,” he said.
Yu added that health misinformation remains a serious concern, especially when false claims about vaccines circulate widely, undermining public trust in government health interventions.
Another growing danger, he explained, is the use of celebrity face-swapping in online investment scams. Fraudsters now use deepfakes of well-known figures such as global CEOs or political leaders to lure unsuspecting victims into high-profit schemes.
“Whenever you see a famous face promising guaranteed returns, that should ring alarm bells,” he cautioned.
He also noted increasing global manipulation of Facebook, WhatsApp and other widely used platforms, warning participants to remain vigilant.
“If there is really easy money to be made, why would a stranger be sharing it with you instead of their own family?” he asked.
