Germany · Stripe · France · Wired
When every random text message feels like it’s a scam, and with AI supercharging digital fraud
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The fake-new-credit-card-in-your-mailbox trick is particularly insidious.
Key facts
- Skimmer fraud is rampant with losses in the United States alone reaching over $1 billion each year,” US Attorney Phillip W
- A weekly newsletter by Lily Hay Newman and Matt Burgess from inside the new world of privacy and digital security
- When every random text message feels like it’s a scam, and with AI supercharging digital fraud, old-time credit card skimmers and bogus letters that arrive in the mail may seem laughable as potential
- In order for the new (fake) card to be activated, the scam letter says, it should be registered using an included QR code or URL
Summary
Welcome to Kernel Panic! When every random text message feels like it’s a scam, and with AI supercharging digital fraud, old-time credit card skimmers and bogus letters that arrive in the mail may seem laughable as potential threats in 2026. In order for the new (fake) card to be activated, the scam letter says, it should be registered using an included QR code or URL. If someone scans the QR code, they’re typically redirected to a fake banking website, where they’re asked to enter their details—potentially giving cybercriminals direct access to their real accounts. Mail scams aren’t the only ’90s throwback on the docket.