Computer Says Maybe Gotcha! ScamGPT w/ Lana Swartz & Alice Marwick
Oct 3, 2025
In this engaging discussion, guests Lana Swartz and Alice Marwick dive into the dark world of AI-enabled scams. Lana, a media studies professor, highlights how economic precarity and side-hustle culture fuel scams. Alice, a social scientist, exposes the alarming role of human trafficking in scam operations. They explore how generative AI automates fraud by crafting personalized scripts targeting vulnerability, while also debating whether AI could reduce human trafficking. Their insights shed light on the terrifying interplay between technology and exploitation.
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Scams Mirror Economic And Communication Shifts
- Scams reflect shifts in the economy and communication technologies, creating a shadow history of markets and media.
- Economic precarity and cultural narratives about entrepreneurship make people more susceptible to scamlike opportunities.
Scam Compounds And Trafficked Workers
- Many scam texts and chats originate from Southeast Asian cybercrime compounds that traffic and coerce workers.
- Victims are often promised legit desk jobs, then detained and forced to run scams 14–20 hours a day.
Trying To Outsmart Scammers Backfires
- A person thought they could game a fake Spotify click-farming job to get paid and ended up paying scammers instead.
- People often try to outscam scammers and end up deeper in the scheme or losing money.
