Fake Subscription Scams Involving Impersonated Popular AI Apps

Who Gets Targeted

The primary victims are AI tool users aged 18-35, including small business operators, freelancers, content creators, students, and general users interested in AI technology but lacking knowledge of official channels. These individuals often seek to improve efficiency and reduce costs using AI. They are psychologically susceptible to promotional tactics like 'low-cost lifetime membership' or 'local deployment with no monthly fees.' Lacking the ability to verify authentic apps, they trust fake 'official authorization' or 'user review' badges. Because the amount lost per transaction is often small and the cost of seeking legal recourse is high, most victims give up, indirectly enabling the illegal activities of criminal syndicates.

骗局怎么运作

• Criminal syndicates first impersonate the names, icons, and interfaces of popular AI apps like DeepSeek, ChatGPT, and Midjourney to create high-fidelity fake apps or websites. They use tactics like fake reviews on app stores, traffic-driving ads on short-video platforms, and search engine optimization to rank their fake apps high in search results, precisely targeting users looking for AI tools.
• Promotional tactics focus on 'ultra-low prices' and 'lifetime benefits,' claiming things like 'Official lifetime membership for only 49 yuan' or '198 yuan for a local permanent version with no further fees.' These prices are far below official subscription rates. They also forge official authorization letters, user earnings screenshots, and positive review pop-ups to lower user vigilance and induce them to download the app or pay on a fake website.
• After payment, users either receive a low-quality AI tool filled with ads and missing features, or the app fails to open entirely. Some syndicates embed Trojan horses within the app to steal payment information, contact lists, chat logs, and other private data for secondary fraud.
• Some syndicates further exploit users by demanding additional payments under pretexts like 'system upgrade service fees,' '99 yuan security deposit to unlock advanced features,' or 'identity verification for membership activation,' increasing the total amount stolen. Some users have lost thousands of yuan in total.
• Once a user requests a refund or discovers the scam, the syndicate blocks the user's account, removes the fake app, and shuts down the website. Since users often only know the perpetrator's social media or payment account, tracking their true identity is difficult. Furthermore, as many of these syndicates operate from overseas, seeking legal recourse is extremely challenging.

红旗信号（看到这些快跑）

• 🚩 The AI app cannot be found in official app stores and can only be downloaded via strange links or niche app markets. The developer name does not match the official one, and the interface has missing features or excessive ad pop-ups.
• 🚩 The subscription price is significantly lower than the official public pricing. For example, a service that officially costs 200 yuan per month is offered for 49 yuan lifetime or 198 yuan for a permanent local version, far exceeding official promotional policies.
• 🚩 The fake website uses suspicious or pinyin-like domains, lacks official brand identifiers, contains typos, has disorganized layouts, and lists personal accounts as contact information.
• 🚩 Payment channels require transfers to personal WeChat or Alipay accounts, or use non-official third-party payment platforms. They cannot provide formal invoices and lack official customer service portals.
• 🚩 Promotional content includes claims never made by the official developer, such as 'official internal channel,' 'only 100 spots left for limited-time offer,' or 'exclusive local deployment features,' accompanied by an excessive amount of fake positive reviews and earnings screenshots.

真实案例

• In March 2025, Sina Finance reported that, according to a security agency, there were over 3,000 fake websites and apps parasitizing DeepSeek. A single top-tier fake site defrauded users of up to 2.3 million yuan in one month. Users received only low-quality AI tools with pop-up ads, lacking the promised local deployment or unlimited usage features. Over 100,000 users were affected.
• In June 2026, tech media 80aj reported that multiple third-party platforms were selling 'low-cost ChatGPT Pro shared accounts,' inducing users to pay by promising 'official $200 membership benefits for only 99 yuan per month.' After OpenAI implemented stricter account risk controls, the shared accounts frequently disconnected, rendering them unusable. Over 20,000 users were affected, with individual losses ranging from dozens to thousands of yuan. (Source: https://www.80aj.com/2026/06/13/chatgpt-scam-warning/)
• In March 2026, Beijing Daily reported on the 'AI Automated Sales Training' chaos. A syndicate impersonated an AI automated sales tool, inducing users to pay a '2,980 yuan training fee to master AI sales and earn 500 yuan per day.' Users discovered the 'AI tool' was merely a modified version of public video editing software, and the promised automated sales function did not exist. Out of 127 participants, only 3 earned back their training fees. (Source: https://news.bjd.com.cn/2026/03/15/11632325.shtml)

Official Stance

• On March 15, 2025, the Cyberspace Administration of China released the 'Risk Warning for Fake AI Application Scams,' naming DeepSeek and other popular AI tools being impersonated for subscription scams, advising users to download from official channels and not trust ultra-low price offers on third-party platforms.
• On February 10, 2026, the Criminal Investigation Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security issued a warning, noting that total losses from fake AI app subscription scams in 2025 exceeded 1.2 billion yuan. The victim demographic is trending younger, with 78% aged 18-35, and urged users to be vigilant against such scams.
• On June 13, 2026, Apple's China App Store announced the removal of 1,247 fake AI apps and initiated a special investigation into fake AI applications, reminding users not to download AI tools from unknown sources and to prioritize official channels for subscription payments.

How to Protect Yourself

• ✅ When downloading AI tools, prioritize searching on official websites and official app stores. Verify that the developer name, app icon, and feature descriptions match official information. Do not click on strange links or scan QR codes to download apps from unknown sources.
• ✅ When subscribing to AI services, pay directly through official payment channels. Do not trust ultra-low price offers on third-party platforms. Official pricing can be verified on the AI tool's official membership page; discounts exceeding 50% of the official price are almost certainly scams.
• ✅ Do not grant unnecessary permissions to AI apps, especially access to contacts, payments, or photo albums, to prevent privacy theft. Uninstall the app immediately if you notice abnormal charges or excessive ad pop-ups.
• ✅ If you discover you have been scammed, immediately preserve evidence such as payment records, chat screenshots, and app download links. Report it to the app platform or call the 96110 anti-fraud hotline immediately; do not give up on your rights just because the amount is small.