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    "headline": "AI-Enabled Brand Impersonation via WhatsApp and SMS Fuels Persistent Consumer Fraud",
    "dek": "Kaspersky study reveals AI-driven brand impersonation via messaging apps causes lasting emotional damage to victims.",
    "prose": "Kaspersky released a study titled 'The Great Messaging Heist' which found that brand impersonation is one of the three most common types of messaging fraud worldwide, accounting for 31% of cases globally and 32% in Spain. [^1]\n\nImmediately after a scam, 54% of victims felt angry, 42% felt frustrated, and 38% felt disturbed, with these emotions persisting for an average of six months. [^2]\n\nMore than one in four affected consumers globally (28%) reported being defrauded three or more times, while the rate in Spain is 19.6%. [^3]\n\nNearly half (43%) of fraud attempts begin on WhatsApp, followed by SMS/iMessage (40%) and Facebook (27%), according to the study. [^4]\n\nChatGPT has launched a new Stickers feature located within the Images section of its mobile app. [^5]\n\nGenerated stickers can be added directly to a user's WhatsApp or iMessage sticker library. [^6]\n\nThe Stickers tool allows users to import a source photograph and generate sticker options based on that image. [^7]\n\nThe AI successfully preserved the dog's recognizable details while exaggerating her expressions in the generated stickers. [^8]",
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      "statement": "Kaspersky released a study titled 'The Great Messaging Heist' which found that brand impersonation is one of the three most common types of messaging fraud worldwide, accounting for 31% of cases globally and 32% in Spain.",
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