North Yorkshire Council’s Trading Standards division has issued an emergency public notice following a spike in regional cybercrime reports. Scammers are actively launching fraudulent e-commerce websites that utilise highly convincing, AI-generated images of high-street retail stores and products. Unsuspecting consumers are being tricked into making purchases, leading to stolen bank details, identity theft, and the non-delivery of goods. Enforcement officers are urging residents to double-check URL verifications and avoid deals that appear unseasonably cheap.
Trading Standards Issue Severe Warning Over AI "High Street" Retail Scams
06 June 2026
Shoppers across North Yorkshire are being warned to watch out for a sophisticated new wave of fake retail websites using artificial intelligence to trick local buyers