Nowadays, everything can feel overwhelming. The news is bad enough, but AI has leaked not just into the mainstream but into every bit of social media. If you’ve ever doomscrolled in YouTube shorts, TikTok, or Instagram, you’ve come across videos of someone crying or pleading with you not to keep scrolling. Most of us have gotten to the point where that sort of messaging hits the same part of our brains that block out the conscious absorption of sidebar and top ads.

Additionally, these scammers have realized that one of the markets with the deepest pockets are nerds. From dice goblins to fashion collectors, we’re a passionate group willing to spend a bit more for quality work or something that tickles that fantastical whimsy at our core. In this wonderful global age, we’re able to ship across the entire world to get that little bit of cool made by someone with the same enthusiasm for the mythical. We’re also a group that widely considers ourselves wise to AI usage. Our pride may be our downfall if we’re not careful.

On the good side, there are plenty of content creators that have dived into the deep end of AI imagery on sites like AliExpress, Amazon, Pinterest, Etsy and more. Unfortunately, we don’t simply have to worry about scammers using AI images or recording themselves or stealing other people’s videos to cobble together their own, chucking up a storefront and selling knockoffs that fall apart. Now, AI can create full videos. These scammers take advantage of marginalized communities, aiming to sell to those desperate to help support artists in their endeavors.

In the United States especially, economic protests are on the rise, and though many are simply reducing their spend as much as possible, others are redirecting their purchase power to small businesses and their fellow community members. Falling for one of these AI videos can be heartbreaking, especially if you decide to spend a bit extra believing you’re buying artwork from the artist and not commercial mass-produced pieces.

Luckily, you’re not alone. There are people who are working their hardest to help artists fight against these scammers. In a lot of cases, a quick search will reveal things. Between socials that don’t exist and too good to be true prices, it’s better to err on the side of caution. Depending on how new the scam is, wonderful folks like Whitney below will also put out collections, so the artist doesn’t have to. If you find you’ve nearly fallen for one, simply magnify the voice that revealed the truth, and block the scammer.

As many often note, AI is currently the worst it will ever be, and scams like these capitalize on the impulse purchase, so take the time to double check. While everything going on right now can feel overwhelming, this is one of the best kindnesses you can do to help artists.

Come across a scam lately? Furious that your favorite artist is getting hit by scammers? Let us know in the comments below! Or you can share your thoughts and join the conversation on Boss Rush Network’s Discord and Facebook.

Featured Image: Eli Celata

The Boss Rush Podcast: The Flagship Podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network

The Boss Rush Podcast – The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, Stephanie, LeRon, and their friends from around the internet come together with other creators, developers, and industry veterans to talk about games they’ve been playing, discuss video game and entertainment based topics, and answer questions solicited on social media and the community Discord. 

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