Chatbots have become increasingly popular in recent years, but there is a concerning surge in ChatGPT-related scams. OpenAI offers a free version of ChatGPT, but scammers try to lead victims to fake websites claiming users must pay for the service. According to researchers from Palo Alto Networks Unit 42, last year saw a 910% increase in monthly registrations for domains related to ChatGPT from November 2022 – April 2023. Not only this, but data from the same period indicated a whopping 18,000% surge in squatting domains from DNS security logs.
The main issue with these chatbots is the risk they pose in collecting and stealing the input data provided. As a result, users are warned to be extra cautious when sharing any confidential or sensitive information with a chatbot, as it could be used for identity theft or financial fraud.
Furthermore, scammers are taking advantage of OpenAI’s growing popularity and their connection with TESLA’s Elon Musk to lure victims into fake crypto giveaway events. It is worth noting that those apps are not necessarily free, and they are often based on GPT-3, a less powerful version than the recently released GPT-4 and GPT-3.5.
Therefore, it is vital for users to be cautious when handling any emails that are related to ChatGPT, cautiously accessing the services only through OpenAI’s official website to stay safe and avoid any potential scammers. Despite its great advancements, OpenAI is still the only trusted place for safe ChatGPT usage.
Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 is company based in Santa Clara, California in the United States. It is a provider of cyber-security solutions, with an aim to help protect data, networks, and users with various security offerings. Unit 42’s research team aids in threat detection, prevention, and response in the areas of Industry sectors, financial services, cloud security and security operations.
Elon Musk, founder of TESLA, has been a major player in the development of OpenAI. Musk’s contributions have extended far beyond his own platforms and products, with OpenAI using his works to develop AI and the GPT-3 model. Musk has always been a major supporter of developing artificial intelligence with a focus on safety parameters, which has made his company and his works with OpenAI so successful.
