Theguardian iconTheguardianAug 16, 2026

‘We detected unusual activity’: the scam that uses AI to exploit your holiday photos

Fraudsters use pictures posted on Instagram or Facebook to create emails seeking bank account details You are on a short break in Porto and post some pictures of your family on Instagram or Facebook. With a small section of the Douro river in the background, you think it could have been taken anywhere.

‘We detected unusual activity’: the scam that uses AI to exploit your holiday photos

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Fraudsters use pictures posted on Instagram or Facebook to create emails seeking bank account details You are on a short break in Porto and post some pictures of your family on Instagram or Facebook.

With a small section of the Douro river in the background, you think it could have been taken anywhere.

"We detected unusual activity while you were travelling in Porto – please verify immediately," says the message.

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Fraudsters use pictures posted on Instagram or Facebook to create emails seeking bank account details You are on a short break in Porto and post some pictures of your family on Instagram or Facebook. With a small section of the Douro river in the background, you think it could have been taken anywhere. "We detected unusual activity while you were travelling in Porto – please verify immediately," says the message.

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A few days later, you get a text saying that your card was compromised.

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