AI-powered document scams are rapidly evolving as cybercriminals leverage sophisticated technologies to generate fraudulent content with minimal effort. According to Microsoft’s Cyber Signals report, AI—while a powerful tool transforming business operations—has also made it easier for cybercriminals to target victims.
The report highlights how AI assists scammers in scanning the web for company information, enabling them to generate fake product reviews, storefronts, and documents, affecting businesses and consumers globally.
In this blog, we will explore the current threats posed by AI-driven scams and how digital signatures and seals can help combat document fraud while preserving brand reputation.
How AI is Fuelling Document Scams
The evolution of AI-generated fake documents includes but is not limited to fake IDs, financial records, legal contracts, and phishing emails. TRM Labs’ open-source fraud reporting platform indicates that AI-enabled scams increased by 456% from May 2024 to April 2025.
The rapid advancement of generative AI tools makes it easier than ever for cybercriminals to produce human-like text, code, images, videos, and documents in a short time. Deepfakes that once required weeks to create can now be generated within minutes.
Earlier this year, cybercriminals exploited DocuSign’s platform, sending fraudulent invoices that appeared authentic—often impersonating well-known brands like Norton and PayPal. A subsequent wave of scams emerged in April 2025, where attackers sent fake "Signature Requested" emails, tricking users into handing over personal information.
Additionally, fake QR code scams have surged, with fraudsters placing counterfeit QR codes over legitimate ones in public spaces, leading unsuspecting users to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal and financial information.
While AI-driven tools, such as ChatGPT and CoPilot, and image generators have become indispensable, they also pose significant security threats. Even with minimal input, these platforms can generate near-perfect replicas of official identity documents. Social media platforms have recently seen an influx of AI-generated Indian Aadhaar and PAN cards, raising serious security concerns.
AI-Fake Documents: The Impact on Citizens & Businesses
Fraudulent documents do not just affect individuals—they pose serious risks to businesses and government institutions alike. Victims often suffer financial losses, legal complications, and emotional distress, fostering distrust in digital systems.
For businesses, the consequences extend beyond financial setbacks to include reputational damage and legal risks. A security breach caused by fraudulent documents can erode consumer trust and tarnish brand credibility. Additionally, companies must navigate heightened compliance challenges as they reinforce security measures to prevent future fraud.
As AI-powered scams continue to evolve, staying ahead of emerging threats and implementing robust security practices will be crucial to maintaining trust and integrity. These scams underscore the growing sophistication of cyber threats and the critical need for document security. This is where digital signatures and seals serve as essential tools to verify authenticity and safeguard individuals and businesses.
Discover more about Document Signing Solutions
Combatting AI-Powered Fake Documents: The Role of Digital Signatures in Security and Trust
For organizations defending against the malicious uses of AI is an uphill battle and staying ahead of the game requires relentless vigilance. So, when specifically looking at combatting AI-powered fake documents, the question is; how can businesses protect themselves and their customers? A vital solution is digital signatures and seals.
By using cryptographic methods, digital signatures can verify the authenticity and integrity of digital documents, messages, or files. They confirm that a document was created by a known sender and has not been tampered with.
Similarly, digital seals authenticate a document’s origin and act as a virtual organizational stamp, signalling that it is official and unaltered.
Implementing digital signatures is essential for enhancing trust, preventing fraud, and ensuring document integrity in an increasingly digital world.
Key use cases include:
- E-Government Services: Signing contracts, permits, and official documents (e.g. birth certificates, land registry records) to validate authenticity.
- Banking and Finance: Financial institutions digitally seal any type of customer communication document to protect against phishing scams.
- Corporate Communication and Brand Protection: Digital signatures and seals secure sensitive external business communication documents, preventing impersonation scams.
- Academic and Professional Credentials: Universities use digital seals on transcripts to prevent credential fraud.
- Supply Chain and Manufacturing: Digital signatures validate purchase orders and quality inspection reports, while seals authenticate documentation accompanying goods, deterring counterfeit products.
Future Outlook and Preventative Measures
As AI-driven document scams become more sophisticated, digital fraud will continue evolving—posing widespread risks to individuals and organizations. Strengthening security protocols through digital signatures, verification systems, and cyber awareness training is crucial to counteract these threats.
Organizations must also emphasize digital literacy and awareness, empowering employees and consumers to recognize suspicious activities before falling victim to scams.
AI has the potential to transform industries and optimize workflows, but it also underpins the urgent need to prioritize document security. Learn how you can protect you documents and your brand with GlobalSign’s Document Signing Solutions.
