Beware of scams: They offer fake houses generated by AI | Technology

A new real estate scam exploits AI Creating a false image of a home and offering the property at a very low price to deceive unsuspecting buyers.

In Spain, criminals post ads on sales and rental portals containing surreal images of non-existent properties, according to La Rioja police. The homes appear luxurious and are priced well below what they would be on the market.

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Those interested, driven by the obvious opportunity, contact the alleged owner, who moves the conversation to messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram. There, the scammers manage to gain the victim’s trust and, citing high demand, ask for an advance payment to secure the property. After receiving the money, the criminals cut off all communications, and the victim discovers that the home does not exist.

As Infobae points out, what makes this scam particularly dangerous is that it uses artificial intelligence to create hyper-realistic images of non-existent property. These images contain fine details like lighting and shadows, making it more difficult to identify the fraud.

Authorities advise being very careful with offers that seem too good to be true. If possible, always visit in person to confirm the property exists. They also advise against making an upfront payment without a secure contract.