Crucial tips for Harrogate businesses facing threats of AI spams and scams at Rudding Park event

Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce is to help local firms navigate the rapidly evolving threat of AI-driven fraud.

Entitled Spams & Scams – How AI is Reshaping Trust and Identity, the meeting is to take place on Monday, October 12 at Rudding Park Hotel from 5.15pm to 8pm.

As local businesses adopt artificial intelligence tools to streamline daily operations, cybercriminals are weaponising the exact same technology to create automated invoice fraud, cloned voices, fake websites and fabricated digital identities.

Recent research indicates that 85 per cent of people now find it difficult to distinguish digital scams from legitimate communications.

The session arrives amid growing national debate over artificial intelligence governance, mirroring Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s expressed commitment to protecting citizens and businesses from AI misuse.

Co-led by Chamber Management Team members Sam from GOBO Creative and Louise Terzza of Time Together, the presentation will demonstrate how convincing synthetic media has become, featuring live demonstrations of fake audio, cloned video, and real-world scam examples submitted by local business owners.

Phill Holdsworth, President of Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, said: "AI is transforming the way we work but it is also providing sophisticated tools for fraudsters targeting hardworking local businesses.

"Falling victim to a scam can cause severe financial and emotional distress and there is often an unhelpful stigma attached to it.

"Our upcoming meeting is designed to unpack these threats in a supportive environment, giving our business community the practical knowledge and law enforcement guidance needed to stay safe."

The forthcoming event will also see Ben Groves of Flux Therapy exploring the psychological impact experienced by sole traders and small business owners who fall victim to fraud.

Following this, Chris Dickinson of ASE Computer Services will outline proactive IT defences and employee awareness, while Claire Allinson and Phil Gretton from the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Organised Crime Unit Cyber Crime Unit will detail the steps businesses should take if targeted by cybercriminals.