AI deepfakes and fake job offers: On Financial Literacy Day, experts warn of new fraud schemes
To mark Financial Literacy Day, Paysera experts review the latest fraud trends. Whilst a rapid growth in financial fraud cases is being recorded in Lithuania and globally, and criminals' arsenals have been supplemented with artificial intelligence (AI), effective prevention is yielding results. A contradictory trend has been observed: the number of phishing attacks in Q1 2026 almost doubled compared to the previous quarter, however, the number of fraud-related refund requests within the Paysera network decreased by as much as 57%.
Investment fraud and empty promises
Toma Bingelienė, Head of the Anti-Money Laundering Department at Paysera, emphasises that investment fraud remains one of the most dangerous forms, resulting in the greatest losses.
„Lured by the promise of easy money, clients transfer funds to complete strangers, without even realising that there is nothing behind the professional-looking graphics. Fake loans work in a similar way: people pay „administration“ fees, but as soon as the funds reach the fraudsters, all communication ceases“, – says T. Bingelienė. According to the expert, repeat fraud is also particularly damaging, where victims are contacted by so-called lawyers who promise to help them recover their lost money, but are in fact setting a new trap.
Fake jobs and advance fees – the most popular scheme
According to the expert, as many as 50% of all identified fraud cases currently consist of two closely related schemes – fake job offers (job scams) and advance fee scams. Both exploit people's financial needs and their hope of earning money quickly.
„In the case of fake jobs, fraudsters post attractive advertisements and later demand payment for supposedly mandatory training or equipment. In advance fee schemes, the principle is identical: a loan or a prize is offered, but first, a payment for administrative fees is required. After receiving the payment, the fraudsters disappear“, – explains T. Bingelienė. According to her, it is the strengthened prevention in these areas that has led to an overall 57% decrease in refund requests.
Artificial intelligence is blurring the line between truth and falsehood
The spread of AI allows criminals to forge documents in minutes, making them almost indistinguishable from genuine ones. Paysera CEO Justina Šidlauskienė notes that in the hands of criminals, technology becomes a tool that makes it increasingly difficult for users to distinguish authentic information from manipulation.
„Although AI allows fraudsters to forge documents with incredible accuracy, we are treating this as a technological duel. We are deploying even more advanced, AI-based recognition systems to counter the criminals’ algorithms. We are investing in solutions that identify the most subtle forgeries, imperceptible to the human eye, to ensure our clients' security stays one step ahead“, – says J. Šidlauskienė.
Experts recommend that if you receive a suspicious message or call, you should contact the company directly using the phone number listed on its official channels, rather than using the links or contact details provided in the message.