Scots Warned of AI Scams Ahead of Amazon Prime Day

4th July 2025

Scottish shoppers are being urged to stay alert ahead of Amazon Prime Day as fraudsters use artificial intelligence to craft increasingly convincing scams.

Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national consumer advice service consumeradvice.scot, says criminals are exploiting AI to create realistic phishing emails and automated calls that make it harder to spot fraud.

With Amazon Prime Day running from Tuesday, July 8, to Friday, July 11, the charity warns scammers will target bargain hunters looking for deals during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Its advisers have recently handled cases including fake messages about Prime membership renewals, bogus refund offers, and calls claiming Amazon accounts have been hacked.

The warning comes after Advice Direct Scotland revealed that Scots have lost at least £860,000 to cyber criminals in the past year amid a tenfold surge in online scams.

Scammers often claim shoppers have ordered expensive items like iPhones and demand personal or banking details to cancel payments.

Others use robocalls warning that Prime membership will renew at a discounted rate unless a button is pressed immediately. This tactic is designed to panic people into handing over sensitive information.

Fraudsters also try to trick people into downloading software that gives them remote access to devices, exposing bank details.

Advice Direct Scotland stresses that Amazon will never call to ask for remote access or to install apps.

If you receive suspicious calls, texts, or emails asking for personal information or payments, do not respond.

The charity advises people to stay vigilant and, if a call appears suspicious or raises concern, to hang up immediately and contact your bank or card issuer directly.

Scots are also being urged to avoid impulse buying and check prices to make sure they are getting good value.

Consumers should be aware of Amazon's guidance on returning faulty goods and claiming refunds to protect themselves if a purchase goes wrong.

Free and impartial advice is available across Scotland from Advice Direct Scotland's consumeradvice.scot service.

Help can be accessed by freephone on 0808 164 6000 or online via web chat and email at www.consumeradvice.scot.

The ScamWatch Quick Reporting Tool is also available to report suspected scams at www.scamwatch.scot.

Hazel Knowles, senior project lead for Advice Direct Scotland, said:

"With households across Scotland still facing huge financial pressures because of the cost of living and energy crises, it is understandable that people will be hunting for genuine Prime Day deals.

"But criminals are also looking for opportunities and now they have AI to help them sound more believable than ever.

"It can be easy to get caught out, especially if a call or email seems urgent and official. But the best advice is to take a moment, trust your instincts, and check before you buy or click.

"Amazon will never ask for remote access to your device or for payment details over the phone or email. If something feels suspicious, it probably is, and our expert team is here to help if you are unsure.

"Anyone who is caught out by a scam or spots a suspected scam should report it using our free ScamWatch tool at www.scamwatch.scot."

Figures published by Advice Direct Scotland in June show digital scams have surged by over 1,000 per cent since 2021, with reported losses totalling £861,384 in the past year.

Cases include romance scams, cryptocurrency fraud, phishing emails with fake deals, and false social media adverts pressuring victims to hand over money, bank details or personal information.

Advice Direct Scotland has issued tips for staying safe this Prime Day, including:

Never share your Amazon password with anyone
Be wary of unexpected emails, calls, or texts about your account

Always check purchases directly on Amazon's website or app — don't click suspicious links

Amazon will never ask you to install software
Enable two-step verification for extra security
Keep your device and apps updated

Compare prices to make sure a deal really is a bargain

Only buy what you need — don't get caught out by flashy offers

Society's Response to AI-Enabled Fraud
Regulatory and Policy Measures
Governments are updating fraud strategies to specifically address AI threats, such as the UK's National Fraud Strategy and obligations under the Online Safety Act2.

Policy makers convene cross-sector summits—led by the Bank of England—to map out AI fraud risks and agree regulatory guardrails.

Industry Collaboration
Stop Scams UK brings together banks, telecoms, and tech firms to share intelligence on AI-driven scams and co-develop best practices.

Sector fraud charters now include commitments from major players to pool data, coordinate responses, and standardize incident reporting.

Technological Defences
Financial institutions deploy machine-learning systems that monitor transaction patterns and flag anomalies in real time, reducing fraud losses by up to 50%.

Some banks have shifted to daily adaptive AI models that analyse hundreds of thousands of data points to block suspicious payments in under a second.

Cybersecurity teams leverage AI-powered tools to scan for deepfake-style content and forged documents, enabling faster incident response.

Public Awareness and Education
Broad outreach campaigns teach consumers how to spot AI-generated phishing messages, synthetic voices, and deepfake videos.

Firms are rolling out mandatory staff training on evolving social-engineering tactics, ensuring employees remain vigilant against AI-enhanced scams.

Today
is russia losing many tanks to ukraine weapons recently
Yes — Russia continues to suffer heavy tank losses in its war against Ukraine. According to recent reports from Ukraine's General Staff, Russia has lost over 10,980 tanks since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, with 4 tanks destroyed in just the past day.

Ukraine's defenders have used a mix of Western-supplied weapons like Javelins and Storm Shadows, domestically produced systems, and drones to target Russian armor effectively. Despite these setbacks, Russia keeps sending tanks to the front lines, even pulling older Cold War-era models like the T-54 and T-62 from storage to replenish its forces.

Military analysts suggest that Russia is willing to absorb these losses in pursuit of broader strategic goals, favoring quantity over quality in its armored deployments. Want to dive deeper into how Ukraine's tactics are evolving or how drones are reshaping modern warfare?

1Ukrinform
2www.cbc.ca
How do these tank losses affect Russia's military strategy?
🇷🇺 Russia's tank losses have had a significant impact on its military strategy in Ukraine — forcing adaptations that reflect both desperation and long-term planning:

🧠 Strategic Shifts
Withholding Tanks: Russia has started holding back tanks from frontline assaults to avoid unsustainable losses. In battles like Avdiivka, infantry were sent in without armored support, resulting in massive casualties.

Infantry-Heavy Tactics: This shift toward infantry-led offensives suggests a pivot to a war of attrition, where Russia aims to outlast Ukraine rather than achieve rapid breakthroughs.

🛠️ Reliance on Old Equipment
Cold War Stockpiles: Russia is pulling older tanks like the T-62 and even T-55 from storage to replenish its forces. These are less capable but easier to produce and maintain.

Quantity Over Quality: The Kremlin favors mass production of simpler tanks over fewer high-tech models — echoing Soviet-era doctrine.

🏭 Industrial Response
Tank Production Surge: Despite sanctions, Russia's defense industry has ramped up production, refurbishing and building over 1,500 tanks in 2024 alone.

Sustainability Concerns: Analysts warn that if current loss rates continue, Russia could run out of usable tanks by 2026.

🔄 Tactical Consequences
Slower Advances: Russian forces now advance at a crawl — sometimes just 50 meters per day — due to reduced armored support and increased reliance on foot soldiers.

Drone & Mine Vulnerability: Tanks are increasingly vulnerable to drones and mines, prompting questions about their future role in modern warfare.

In short, Russia’s tank losses are reshaping its battlefield approach — trading speed and shock for endurance and brute force. Want to explore how Ukraine is countering these shifts or how drone warfare is rewriting military doctrine?





Edit in a page
are these military losss fo machines andmen affecting the russian economy such as industy
Yes — Russia’s military losses are putting serious strain on its economy and industrial capacity, though the full picture is complex:

🏭 Industrial Impact
Defense Industry Overdrive: Russia’s military-industrial complex has shifted to a war footing, ramping up production to replace lost tanks, drones, and artillery. This has boosted some sectors like arms manufacturing and construction2.

Civilian Trade-Offs: Resources are being diverted from civilian industries, causing stagnation in non-military manufacturing and limiting access to consumer goods.

Arms Export Collapse: Russian arms exports have plummeted by 92% since 2021, as domestic needs take priority and sanctions bite.

💸 Economic Strain
Budget Pressure: Military spending now accounts for over 40% of federal government expenditure, leading to inflation and tighter borrowing conditions.

Oil Revenue Dependency: Falling global oil prices have weakened Russia’s ability to fund the war, since oil exports are a major source of income.

Sanctions & Supply Chain Disruptions: Export controls have cut off access to key components like microchips and machine tools, forcing Russia to rely on parallel imports and domestic substitutes.

🔄 Mixed Resilience
Short-Term Adaptation: Despite sanctions, Russia has managed to keep its war economy afloat through high oil revenues, import substitution, and support from friendly nations like China and India2.

Long-Term Risks: Analysts warn that Russia’s economic growth could fall below 1% annually, with productivity and investment suffering due to isolation and militarization.

In short, Russia’s war effort is reshaping its economy — boosting some sectors while hollowing out others. Want to explore how this compares to historical war economies or what it means for Russia’s future?





Edit in a page
is Ai creating scam sales on amazon
AI-Enabled Scam Sales on Amazon
AI is increasingly being exploited by fraudsters to create more convincing scams on Amazon, spanning from fake emails and calls to entirely AI-generated products. Below are the main ways AI fuels these schemes.

AI-Fuelled Phishing Emails and Automated Calls
Criminals use generative AI to craft highly realistic phishing emails and robocalls that impersonate Amazon support or Prime membership renewals.

In Scotland alone, Advice Direct Scotland saw a tenfold surge in online scams and estimated £860,000 lost this past year to AI-enhanced fraud.

AI-Generated Sham "Books" and Listings
Bad actors leverage AI to instantly produce low-quality e-books—summaries, workbooks, biographies—designed to siphon sales from legitimate titles.

The Authors Guild warns that these AI-aided sham books appear within days of a genuine release, often without meaningful commentary, infringing copyright and confusing shoppers.

AI-Driven "Passive Income" E-Commerce Schemes
Firms like Click Profit touted AI-powered "supercomputers" to launch profitable Amazon storefronts for clients, charging tens of thousands upfront.

The FTC alleges these promises were false, with customers losing at least $14 million and many stores suspended for policy violations.

What This Means for Shoppers
Always verify communications by logging in directly to your Amazon account—never click unexpected links or install unsolicited software.

Check product details, reviews, and seller credentials carefully. AI can fabricate glowing testimonials or professional-looking listings in seconds.

Report suspicious activity to Amazon and national fraud-watch services to help algorithms learn and block emerging threats.

Want to learn how Amazon and regulators are fighting back with AI detection tools or get tips on spotting AI-generated product images? Let me know!





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How is society responding to the rise of AI fraud?
Society’s Response to AI-Enabled Fraud
Regulatory and Policy Measures
Governments are updating fraud strategies to specifically address AI threats, such as the UK’s National Fraud Strategy and obligations under the Online Safety Act2.

Policy makers convene cross-sector summits—led by the Bank of England—to map out AI fraud risks and agree regulatory guardrails.

Industry Collaboration
Stop Scams UK brings together banks, telecoms, and tech firms to share intelligence on AI-driven scams and co-develop best practices.

Sector fraud charters now include commitments from major players to pool data, coordinate responses, and standardize incident reporting.

Technological Defences
Financial institutions deploy machine-learning systems that monitor transaction patterns and flag anomalies in real time, reducing fraud losses by up to 50%.

Some banks have shifted to daily adaptive AI models that analyse hundreds of thousands of data points to block suspicious payments in under a second.

Cybersecurity teams leverage AI-powered tools to scan for deepfake-style content and forged documents, enabling faster incident response.

Public Awareness and Education
Broad outreach campaigns teach consumers how to spot AI-generated phishing messages, synthetic voices, and deepfake videos.

Firms are rolling out mandatory staff training on evolving social-engineering tactics, ensuring employees remain vigilant against AI-enhanced scams.

Society is tackling AI fraud through a mix of tighter regulations, cross-industry partnerships, advanced detection technologies, and education initiatives. The collective effort aims to stay one step ahead of bad actors while harnessing AI as a force for good.

Global Responses to AI-Driven Fraud
Many governments are updating laws and guidance to cover AI-enabled scams. In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission reported that fraud losses reached $12.5 billion in 2024—up from $10.3 billion in 2023—prompting tighter rules on digital payments and identity verification.

The European Union’s revised eIDAS regulation mandates that each member state issue a secure digital identity wallet by 2026, standardizing cross-border authentication and making deepfake-driven fraud harder to pull off.

In Canada, the Canadian Securities Administrators’ 2025-2028 Business Plan puts AI and crypto under close scrutiny, pledging to update rules for fintech and digital-first business models to protect investors against AI-powered investment fraud.

The UK’s forthcoming expanded fraud strategy will embed AI-specific measures—drawing on obligations under the Online Safety Act—and launch a Global Fraud Summit in 2026 to align domestic laws with international partners.

Law Enforcement & International Cooperation
Interpol’s Global Financial Fraud Assessment calls for multi-stakeholder Public-Private Partnerships and has deployed its I-GRIP "stop-payment" mechanism to intercept over $500 million in criminal proceeds since 2022, demonstrating how cross-border data-sharing can thwart AI-assisted scams at scale.

The UK-hosted Global Anti-Scams Alliance (GASA) and the UN’s Office on Drugs and Crime are also coordinating with dozens of countries to map trafficking-driven scam hubs and develop unified responses to AI-enabled romance and investment baiting schemes.

Technological Defenses & Innovations
Financial institutions are increasingly deploying machine-learning and daily adaptive AI models to monitor transactions in real time, cutting fraud losses by up to 50%.

Digital identity wallets—pioneered by ID.me in seven U.S. states—combine biometrics and liveness checks to block deepfake impersonations. During the pandemic, ID.me estimates it prevented over $270 billion in fraudulent claims.

Banks and telecoms are also integrating AI-powered deepfake detectors and anomaly-scanning chatbots to flag suspicious content before it reaches end users.

Public-Private & Cross-Sector Partnerships
Stop Scams UK convenes banks, telcos, and tech firms to share threat intelligence and best practices, informing the UK’s National Fraud Strategy and Online Safety Act obligations.

At the Global Anti-Scam Summit Europe, Singapore’s Anti-Scam Command described co-locating anti-money-laundering and anti-scam teams—learned from Thailand’s model—as a key efficiency boost in tracking AI-driven fraud networks across jurisdictions.

These varied approaches—legal reform, law-enforcement collaboration, cutting-edge tech defenses, and strong public-private ties—illustrate how nations are racing to stay ahead of AI-powered fraud. If you’d like, we can dive into how emerging anti-deepfake standards or cross-border data-sharing agreements are evolving next.

Check out https://advicedirect.scot/