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Following the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake, scammers utilized AI-generated images to create fraudulent fundraising appeals on social media. By depicting fake rescue scenes, these actors deceived users into donating to personal cryptocurrency wallets rather than legitimate aid organizations. The incident highlights the use of generative AI as a tool for financial fraud and exploitation of humanitarian crises.
AI-generated images depicting earthquakes and rescues were posted on social media platforms by scammers who tricked people into sending funds to their crypto wallets disguised as donation links for the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
Using AI systems to gain a personal advantage over others such as through cheating, fraud, scams, blackmail or targeted manipulation of beliefs or behavior. Examples include AI-facilitated plagiarism for research or education, impersonating a trusted or fake individual for illegitimate financial benefit, or creating humiliating or sexual imagery.
Also classified as
The AI system was used to generate a fabricated image of a rescue that did not occur, creating misleading visual evidence to deceive the public.
Scammers used AI-generated imagery to deceive donors into sending funds to fraudulent accounts, exploiting a humanitarian crisis for personal financial gain.
Human
Due to a decision or action made by humans
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed
The scam was intentionally executed by human actors who chose to use Midjourney-generated images to defraud donors after the AI model was deployed.
Added categories peak at 3: Substantial (Epistemic Harm, Inferred)
Scammers utilized Midjourney to generate realistic synthetic images of disaster rescue scenes to solicit fraudulent donations following the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake. This incident represents a minor national security threat, categorized primarily as an evolved cyber-fraud capability that exploits public empathy and erodes trust in visual information during crises.
The AI system Midjourney was used as a tool by a human creator to generate a specific image of a firefighter based on a text prompt, operating on direct input to produce a static output.
Risk Level 3. Limited Risk: The report describes the use of Midjourney to generate AI-generated content (deepfakes/synthetic images), which falls under transparency obligations for AI-generated content.
The AI system Midjourney was used to generate a realistic image of a firefighter in an earthquake zone from a text prompt.
The report clearly identifies the AI system (Midjourney), how the image was created, and how it was used by scammers to solicit fake donations.
None
Technology
Generative AI Image Software
Midjourney was used to create a fake, deceptive image of a firefighter.
Flawed AI Image Generation
The generator made mistakes, rendering a firefighter with six fingers.
Automated Translation Tools
Scammers used Google Translate to communicate and maintain their deception.
Data Inputs
Deceptive Text Prompts
Specific prompts were input to generate highly emotional disaster imagery.
Human Factors
Exploitation of Human Empathy
Scammers used AI images to prey on the generosity of online donors.
Manual Detection Reliance
Platform relied on users to spot AI artifacts like the extra finger.
Process and Methods
Weak AI Content Moderation
Platforms lacked automated processes to flag synthetic media in scams.
Management
Inadequate Platform Safeguards
Social media management failed to block synthetic media scam campaigns.
Regulatory Environment
Lack of AI Labeling Mandates
No regulations exist to force labeling of AI-generated images.
AI system involved
Identified by automated extraction; can differ from the alleged developers above.
