The Dark Web’s New Business: Selling AI-Generated Identities

 

As AI-generated content is now mainstream, the dark web is also exploiting it to fuel a black market for synthetic identities. These generated IDs are completely fake, they are not real IDs, and neither do they represent real persons. They are completely fake personas, with AI-generated names, photos, and in some cases, fake social media histories. 

One renowned cybersecurity firm reports a 320% increase in such listings since early 2025. Criminals use these synthetic identities to open fake accounts, commit financial fraud, or manipulate online platforms. The most alarming aspect of this is that many of these identities can pass KYC (Know Your Customer) verification processes due to their lifelike details, thus making it a complete menace to deal with. 

Law enforcement faces a new challenge with this ever-growing menace by tracking down someone who does not exist at all. Cybersecurity experts are now calling for new regulations that address the overlap between AI and identity fraud. 

As generative Artificial Intelligence tools become widely and easily accessible, the line between reality and forgery keeps getting thinner and is becoming far more dangerous.

Inside AI-Powered Scams: Can You Spot a Deepfake Criminal?

 

Artificial Intelligence has taken scamming to a whole new level. Over the past few years, deepfake technology has been used not just to impersonate celebrities, but to also trick people into transferring money or revealing very sensitive information. 

Criminals can now make replicas of faces, voices, and even body language with very shocking accuracy, making it harder to distinguish real from fake these days. Recent reports from cybersecurity firms indicate a spike in the percentage of deepfake scams since 2023. 

One such notorious case involved a deepfake of a Hong Kongese CFO used in a live video call to authorize a fraudulent $25 million transfer in 2024. As these scams grow more convincing, experts urge the people and companies across the world to adopt various multi-factor verification and voice authentication tools. 

With AI speedily evolving, staying well informed is the first line of defense against becoming the next deepfake victim.