Microsoft Blocks 1.6 Million Bot Signup Attempts Per Hour Amid AI-Driven Fraud
Microsoft reports blocking 1.6 million bot signup attempts per hour and stopping over $4 billion in fraud between April 2024 and April 2025 as cybercriminals increasingly use AI-powered tools to create convincing fake websites, job postings, and impersonations. The fraudulent schemes target consumers and job seekers through deepfake influencers, AI-generated chatbots, cloned voices, and automated phishing emails, with significant activity traced to China and Germany.
What happened
Between April 2024 and April 2025, Microsoft blocked 1.6 million bot-based signup attempts per hour and rejected 49,000 fake partnership requests. Microsoft says it thwarted more than $4 billion in fraud attempts during the past year.
Cybercriminals are using AI-powered tools to create fake e-commerce websites, counterfeit product reviews, deepfake influencers, and fake job postings. AI enables scammers to set up professional-looking storefronts in minutes with auto-generated descriptions and customer service chatbots.
The cybercriminal group Storm-1811 exploited the legitimate Windows Quick Assist tool to gain remote access to victims' devices through social engineering campaigns.
Reported impact
Job seekers are targeted with AI-generated fake interviews and automated phishing emails designed to trick candidates into sharing personal data. Fake storefronts use AI-generated chatbots to stall chargebacks and manipulate victims into believing they are dealing with legitimate sellers.
Microsoft's anti-fraud team tracked significant fraudulent activity originating from China and Germany, countries with large digital economies and e-commerce footprints.
Index analysis
Fraudsters are using AI to impersonate company recruiters and tech support staff, clone voices, scrape company data, and generate fake reviews. The attacks are faster and cheaper to execute than traditional scams, making them harder to detect.
AI-powered scams now target multiple victim categories including consumers on e-commerce platforms, job seekers on employment platforms, and general users of support services.
Governance controls
Microsoft is embedding fraud resistance directly into product design and using machine learning and AI-driven tools to detect and close exposure gaps. The company has added new warnings and safety steps in Windows Quick Assist and blocks thousands of suspicious connection attempts daily.
Microsoft works with law enforcement and international groups to take down scam networks. The company advises job platforms to implement multi-factor authentication for employers and adopt deepfake detection tools.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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