A "bot" is a computer program that chats or posts automatically. Many are harmless: your bank's help chat, a delivery tracker, a shop assistant on a website. But scammers build bots too, and modern AI makes them sound very human.
Where fake bots turn up
- Fake customer service accounts on Facebook or X that reply when you complain about a company publicly.
- WhatsApp and text chats that start with "Hi, is this the right number?" and turn friendly, then into an "investment".
- Pop-up chat windows on fake shop or fake bank websites.
- Dating and friendship profiles that never meet, never video call, and eventually need money.
- Comment bots under adverts, praising a product or "investment" with near-identical wording.
Seven quick checks
Did you go to them, or did they come to you?
Scammers watch public complaints and reply first, posing as the company. Contact the company yourself through its official website or app.
Check the address.
Is the website or account exactly the company's official one? Type it yourself instead of clicking.
Ask something odd.
A personal question about a shared memory, or a request to video call. Bots and scammers dodge.
Watch for a move to another app.
"Let's continue on WhatsApp/Telegram" is a warning sign.
Never pay or share codes in a chat.
No genuine bank or company bot will ask for your PIN, password or a one-time code.
Look at the profile.
New account, few friends, stock-looking photos, lots of identical comments.
Pause.
Pressure to act today is the biggest giveaway of all.
If you've already chatted
Stop replying, don't click links, and if you've shared bank details ring your bank on the number on your card. Report the account to the platform, and if you've lost money report it to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) online or on 0300 123 2040 (in Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101).
Learn more
- Print the free AI scam checklist.
- Read AI scam texts: five checks and How to spot AI scams.
- Our AI Basics course explains how chatbots work, so the fakes stand out. Or ask your questions live in a Zoom lesson or one-to-one coaching.
Frequently asked questions
What is bot defence?
Simply the habits that stop automated accounts and fake chatbots fooling you: checking who you're talking to before you trust, click or pay.
Can a chatbot sound exactly like a real person?
Yes, AI chatbots can write very natural messages. That's why the checks focus on behaviour (urgency, moving apps, asking for money) rather than spelling mistakes.
Is my bank's chat assistant safe?
If you opened it yourself inside the bank's official app or website, it's the real one. Be wary of any chat that reached you first.
How do I report a fake account?
Use the "report" option on the profile, and forward scam texts to 7726.