DeepSeek and digital scams: new Chinese AI became the target of more than 2,000 fraudulent sites created in January alone

The recent arrival of DeepSeek, a new Chinese artificial intelligence, is already attracting market attention not only for its potential, but also for the growth of fraud associated with its name. According to a survey of Branddi, a company specializing in brand security, 2,137 fake sites were created using the DeepSeek domain in January. Of these, 1,983 were registered between the 26th and the 31st alone. In addition, another 230 were detected on the first weekend of February alone.

The significant increase in domains in the period is in line with the moment when the program was officially launched on January 20. However, Branddi's analysis has already identified fraud patterns associated with the new AI. Among the main scams detected are the sale of fake tokens (digital assets) through DeepSeek and offers of cryptocurrency versions of the app, exploiting the platform's name to deceive Internet users and investors.

Another point of attention is related to the digital advertising environment. Branddi detected actions in which scammers run advertisements on Meta Ads to disclose false promotions using the name DeepSeek improperly. These misleading campaigns redirect users to unofficial apps, compromising consumers' digital security and inducing fake purchases.

Gustavo Mariotto, CSO of Branddi, explains the relationship between the name of the new AI and the scams that have been applied: “It is important to emphasize that, in all the cases mentioned, the actions come from scammers who use DeepSeek as a means to carry out the frauds. In any case, the platform should not be blamed for the scams applied and can, in fact, also be considered a victim of the scammers”.

Growth in Google Brazil searches

In addition to the proliferation of fraudulent sites and advertisements in which the new AI is employed by scammers, Brazilians' interest in the topic has also increased significantly. On January 28, Google searches for the term “DeepSeek scam” exploded, increasing 100-fold. This peak of interest is aligned with the data provided by Branddi, demonstrating that the topic is in evidence both for those who seek to understand the risks of the new tool and for Internet users who wish to protect themselves from possible fraud that is emerging.

Brand Impersonation: how frauds impact the market

The phenomenon observed with DeepSeek is a case of Brand Impersonation, a technique in which fraudsters replicate the visual identity and name of a brand already known in the market to attract the public and carry out scams. “We are faced with a sophisticated dynamic, which mixes fake domains, parallel marketplaces, and misleading advertisements to expand the reach of fraud. These scams not only harm consumers, but they also directly impact companies, causing financial losses and affecting the reputation of these brands,” explains Mariotto.

Branddi warns that the spread of these frauds may grow even more in the coming months, as new AI tools attract great public interest and are frequent targets of digital scams. Continuous monitoring and quick action to remove fraudulent content are essential to contain the negative impacts of these practices.

About Branddi

Founded in 2021, Branddi has established itself as a market-leading solution for monitoring and combating abusive practices related to brands on the internet. Combining advanced technology and brand protection specialists, the company is able to analyze more than 250,000 new domains daily and more than 10 million ads monthly, acting quickly to remove threats. Branddi focuses its efforts on protecting the performance and reputation of brands in the digital environment, offering comprehensive solutions for today's challenges.

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