Visa Warns of Rising AI-Driven Scams Amidst Online Shopping Boom
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Visa is warning Israeli consumers about a surge in deceptive online scams, which have become the leading type of payment fraud globally. Despite overall fraud reduction due to AI, criminals are now directly manipulating consumers. Visa is launching an AI-powered campaign and providing five tips to help shoppers identify and avoid fake offers, emphasizing critical evaluation of deals and seller legitimacy.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Deceptive scams are now the largest category of global consumer payment fraud, Visa reports.
- Visa identified nearly $1 billion in deceptive scam activity between July and December 2025.
- Overall fraud in Europe, including Israel, dropped 24% in three years due to AI security.
- Cybercriminals are increasingly targeting consumers directly through sophisticated manipulation tactics.
- Visa is launching an AI-driven campaign and providing five tips to combat online scams.
- A recent phishing exercise in Israel showed 24% of employees clicked on fake links.
As Israeli consumers engage in November online sales, Visa is issuing a warning about a significant increase in deceptive scams, which have become the largest category of consumer payment fraud globally. These scams often involve manipulating consumers into authorizing payments rather than relying solely on technical breaches. While overall fraud in Europe, including Israel, has decreased by 24% in the last three years due to AI and real-time risk monitoring, cybercriminals are now targeting consumers directly. Between July and December 2025 alone, Visa identified nearly $1 billion in deceptive scam activity. The company's cybersecurity teams handle over 9 billion security incidents daily worldwide.
Gerry Liskey, CEO of Visa in Israel, emphasized the need for consumer vigilance, stating, "Online shopping offers convenience, but it also requires alertness." He noted Visa's investment of over $13 billion in technology and infrastructure over the past five years to enhance payment security. To combat this trend, Visa is launching a campaign using AI-generated imagery to illustrate how fake websites and misleading reviews can convincingly mimic legitimate brands. The campaign aims to educate consumers, particularly younger ones, about these sophisticated tactics.
Visa has also outlined five key principles for consumers to follow before making online purchases. These include not blindly trusting AI recommendations, comparing prices beyond initial offers, verifying business details and contact information, critically reading reviews, and protecting payment information by never sharing sensitive codes and enabling real-time purchase alerts. If suspicious, consumers are advised to avoid clicking links in messages and contact their bank or credit card company directly through official channels. This warning comes during Israel's National Cyber Security Week, which highlighted a concerning vulnerability, with approximately 24% of employees clicking on a phishing link during a large-scale exercise.
