How has AI changed cybercrime?

AI has enabled low-skill actors to deploy sophisticated scams at scale, driving a new wave of cybercrime with tools like Dark LLMs and deepfakes.

What are the financial impacts of AI-driven fraud?

Deepfake-enabled identity attacks have caused verified global losses exceeding $347 million, with AI-assisted malware and phishing also contributing to significant financial damage.

What is the cost of AI crimeware?

Subscription prices for Dark LLMs range from $30 to $200 per month, with entry-level synthetic identity kits costing as little as $5 and real-time deepfake platforms ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

Home / Technology / Dark LLMs Fuel AI Scams: Fraud Scales Up

Dark LLMs Fuel AI Scams: Fraud Scales Up

24 Jan

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Summary

AI-assisted fraud has surged, making phishing campaigns highly convincing.
Deepfake identity attacks resulted in over $347 million in verified losses globally.
Subscription-based AI crimeware fosters a stable, growing underground market.

Dark LLMs Fuel AI Scams: Fraud Scales Up

The landscape of cybercrime has dramatically shifted, with artificial intelligence now empowering low-skill actors to deploy sophisticated scams at scale. This evolution marks a distinct fifth wave of cybercrime, driven by the commercial availability of AI tools rather than isolated experimentation.

Evidence from dark web monitoring indicates a substantial increase in AI-related criminal activity. Between 2019 and 2025, first-time dark web posts referencing AI surged by 371%, with a pronounced acceleration following ChatGPT's public release in late 2022.

An organized AI crimeware economy has emerged, featuring vendors offering self-hosted Dark LLMs without safety restrictions. Subscription prices range from $30 to $200 monthly, with some vendors reporting over 1,000 users. Impersonation services, utilizing deepfake tools, saw a year-on-year mention increase of 233%.