OpenAI says it stopped an Asian scam campaign hijacking ChatGPT to lure in victims

Date:
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 14:20:00 +0000

Description:
Multiple ChatGPT accounts were banned for being used in scam campaigns.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter OpenAI disrupted a major scam campaign in Cambodias Poipet, banning accounts and blocking new registrations Criminals used ChatGPT to run romance fraud, fake investments, bogus police scams, and even operations linked to human trafficking AI was leveraged for fake personas, fraudulent messages, job lures, and worker administration; OpenAI shared findings with authorities after evidence of hundreds of victims losing thousands of dollars OpenAI said it disrupted a major scam campaign coming out of Southeast Asia by banning accounts used by the operation and making it difficult to open new ones.

In a blog post, the ChatGPT maker said it was tipped off about the existence of the campaign by WhatsApp . After investigating further, the company found that a group of criminals in Cambodia used its AI tool in different scam campaigns - romance fraud, fake investment scams, or bogus police investigations. It also used AI to help with day-to-day operations and, most worryingly, for things that could be related to human trafficking and forced criminality. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: Detention
and escape attempts OpenAI did not say if the group had a name, just that it operated out of Poipet, a city in Banteay Meanchey province that public reporting has repeatedly linked to online scam compounds and trafficking operations.

The group used AI to create fake personas, to help draft fraudulent emails
and chat messages, and to create posters for fake jobs which were probably used to lure people into human trafficking or forced labor. You may like ChatGPT joins Microsoft, Google in most-impersonated brands online Security experts warn of AI-boosted scam campaigns that can trick even the smartest victims Experts warn ChatGPT's Workspace Agent Builder can be hijacked to create malicious AI workers

The tool was also used for worker administration, since the operators maintained records of employee debts, salary deductions, disciplinary fines, and loan repayments. They also used the tool to translate discussions about immigration status, work permits, visa overstays, and recruitment incentives.

Some conversations also referenced apparent detention, escape attempts, and potential criminal liability for people who had been trafficked and forced to work in scam operations, OpenAI said. While these conversations do not allow us to determine the circumstances of any particular individual, they are consistent with extensive public reporting describing the activities of organized crime groups in Southeast Asia. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me
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The company could not say how many people fell victim, or how much money this group has stolen, but said it found evidence of hundreds of victims losing thousands of dollars. These findings were shared with relevant authorities.

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/openai-says-it-stopped-an-asian-scam-ca mpaign-hijacking-chatgpt-to-lure-in-victims


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