'Too good' deals may be scams, islanders warned

People in Guernsey have been warned to treat deals that seem "too good to be true" as possible scams by the island's police.

Guernsey Police released the advice for Safer Internet Day on Tuesday.

The force advised people to be sceptical of deals, prizes or investment opportunities that promised "high returns with little risk".

Laura Simpson, from the high tech crime unit, said criminals were using cutting-edge tools like artificial intelligence (AI) to create "highly-convincing" scams.

Scams created with generative AI, which can create realistic written text, images and videos, can be much harder for people to spot compared to more old-fashioned spam and scams, she said.

Ms Simpson said deepfake AI technology, which creates convincing images or videos of real people, could "create sexualised images from innocent pictures shared on social media", which could then be used to blackmail victims.

Police said people should follow these steps to help spot potential scams.

1. Unsolicited Messages: Be wary of unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages, especially those asking for personal information or money
2. Too Good to Be True: Offers that seem too good to be true often are. Be sceptical of deals, prizes, or investment opportunities that promise high returns with little risk
3. Urgency and Pressure: Scammers often create a sense of urgency, pressuring you to act quickly. Take your time to verify the legitimacy of the request
4. Suspicious Links and Attachments: Avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These can contain malware or lead to phishing websites

They also said people should use these techniques to help them avoid scams.

1. Verify the Source: Always verify the identity of the person or organization contacting you. Use official contact information from their website, not the details provided in the message
2. Use Strong Passwords: Create strong, unique passwords for your online accounts and enable two-factor authentication where possible
3. Keep Software Updated: Ensure your devices and software are up to date with the latest security patches
4. Educate Yourself: Stay informed about common scams and how they operate. Knowledge is your best defence

Police said anyone who suspected they had been the victim of a scam should contact them as well as their bank and the website or app they used.

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