Scam advertisements have become ubiquitous on video platforms and across the internet, according to a post by David Ralph Lewis. The ads promote implausible products including Tai Chi programs claiming to produce dramatic physical results in 20 days, adaptive glasses that don’t follow optical principles, USB sticks offering unlimited free internet, and air conditioning units the size of books that can cool any room in 90 seconds.
Lewis notes that platforms accept these advertisements with minimal verification, provided creators can pay for placement. “As long as someone can create an unconvincing advert and pay, platforms will take anything,” he writes. He attributes this to a collective acceptance that AI is inevitable, even as it undermines trust in online information.
The problem extends beyond display ads. Lewis describes receiving increasingly sophisticated phishing emails that use AI-generated text tailored to target specific audiences. One email he received about his poetry collection used phrases pulled directly from his website description, creating a pitch that appeared personalized while actually requesting money or information. “It’s the new version of the Nigerian Prince scam, only more tailored to vulnerable writers and creators,” Lewis notes.
The economics favor scammers despite low conversion rates. Scammers need only convince a small percentage of people to profit, and as AI-generated content becomes more personalized and convincing, the success rate is likely to increase. Lewis describes the quality of spam he receives as having “gotten more sophisticated,” with emails now using context-specific language rather than generic templates.
Lewis expresses frustration with the lack of accountability. He suggests that verifying products exist before accepting advertisements would be a starting point, but acknowledges that large internet platforms are unlikely to voluntarily reduce revenue from ad spending. He calls for greater vigilance and awareness among users, while acknowledging the exhaustion of constantly evaluating content for truth. The proliferation of these scams represents a breakdown in platform moderation standards and a shift in how fraudulent content operates online.
Key facts
- Fake product ads on video platforms promote items that violate basic physical principles, such as glasses that adapt to any prescription or tiny air conditioning units that cool entire rooms instantly
- Platforms accept advertisements with minimal product verification as long as creators pay
- AI-generated phishing emails now use personalized language pulled from targets’ own websites to appear legitimate
- Scammers only need to convince a small percentage of people to make their schemes profitable