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The explosive growth of AIimage generationhas created a new breed ofonline shopping scams.
When the actual products arrive, customers discover cheap substitutes bearing little resemblance to what was advertised.
The good news is AI-generated imagery still contains telltale flaws that careful shoppers can detect.
Here’s five tips to spot AI-generated products before you click “buy now”.
Take a minute to study product images closely, especially for items that seem unusually beautiful or unique.
Look for inconsistencies in textures,misaligned patterns, or areas that seem toblur or fade at the edges.
Also,consider the practicalityof the product.
Is there a power source?
Would the material be safe for hot liquids?
When multiple angles are shown, examine them carefully for consistency.
Do patterns, textures, and small details remain the same across images?
This inconsistency becomes particularly evident in collections of images that should show identical items.
These might be buried in lengthy descriptions or hidden in technical specifications.
Check customer photos and reviews
Perhaps the most reliable way to verify a product’s authenticity is throughcustomer-submitted photos.
Carefully compare any customer photos with the listing images.
Significant discrepancies in appearance, quality, or features are clear warning signs.
For newer listings without reviews,try reverse image searching the product photos.
This might reveal older listings of the same item that accumulated negative reviews before being taken down and relisted.
Compare the price of suspicious items against similar productsfrom established brands or reputable sellers.
Finally,investigate the seller themselves.
Check their account age, review history, and other listings.
New accounts with limited history selling a variety of unrelated products are classic signs of scam operations.
Legitimate businesses typically specialize in certain product categories and build a consistent brand identity over time.
Remember,scammers rely on impulse purchases and shoppers who don’t take the time to investigate thoroughly.
A few minutes of careful evaluation can save you from disappointment when your package arrives.
While you’re here, why not take a look at some of our AI articles?
And if you’re looking to get better results from ChatGPT, check out these11 prompting tips.
