On November 21, 2025, CCTV News shed light on the rampant issue of online shopping fraud, where scammers utilize AI-generated images of defective products to claim refunds without returning the goods. Some unscrupulous consumers resort to AI tools to fabricate images depicting damaged or moldy merchandise, subsequently filing for refunds on the pretext of quality defects, thereby inflicting financial losses on merchants.

Take, for instance, a case where a buyer alleged that a plush toy they had bought was scorched and its surface was peeling. However, upon closer examination by the merchant using AI-powered image analysis tools, telltale signs of forgery were detected in the submitted image.

Experts have cautioned that such fraudulent activities could potentially escalate into criminal offenses, especially when the amounts involved are substantial. Merchants are advised to meticulously preserve evidence, including chat logs and proofs of the fake images. Furthermore, AI service providers bear a responsibility to incorporate clear identifiers in their AI-generated content to curb the misuse of technology.