A Delhi resident has gone viral online after using ChatGPT to outwit a scammer impersonating his college senior, ultimately gathering the fraudster’s location and a photograph of his face. The incident, shared in detail through a Reddit post, has sparked widespread conversation about digital awareness and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in tackling cybercrime.
According to the post, the scammer posed as an IAS officer and attempted to lure the man into buying discounted household items under the pretext of an Army transfer. Instead of falling for the trap, the Delhi resident decided to turn the tables.
Impersonation attempt raises suspicion
The incident began when the man received a Facebook message from someone claiming to be his college senior. The sender said a friend in the CRPF was being transferred and was selling expensive appliances and furniture at heavily reduced rates.
The man grew suspicious because his real senior already had his direct contact number. After confirming that the message was fraudulent, he chose to continue engaging with the scammer to understand how the scheme operated.
The scammer then contacted him from another number, this time displaying an Army-themed profile picture, and demanded payment through a QR code.
Using AI to build a clever trap
Rather than confronting the scammer directly, the Delhi resident pretended to face technical issues scanning the QR code. During the delay, he asked ChatGPT to generate code for a simple webpage capable of capturing:
- The visitor’s GPS location
- IP address
- A front-camera photograph
He hosted the page and sent the link to the scammer, claiming it would “expedite the payment process” once the QR code was uploaded.
Driven by greed and impatience, the scammer clicked the link immediately.
Within seconds, the webpage captured a clear photograph of his face and exact geolocation, along with additional device data.
Scammer panics after being confronted
The Delhi man then sent the scammer his own photo and location details — information the scammer had unknowingly revealed. The sudden reversal caused the fraudster to panic, sending multiple messages pleading for forgiveness and promising to discontinue his fraudulent activities.
Screenshots shared on Reddit under the title “Used ChatGPT to locate a scammer and made him beg me” show the scammer repeatedly apologising.
In his post, the Delhi resident wrote:
“Scammer tried running an Army transfer/cheap goods scam while impersonating a college senior. Instead of paying, I used ChatGPT to code a geolocation/camera capture link, tricked him into clicking it, and forced him to shut down the operation by sending him his own photo and coordinates.”
Online users praise the ingenuity
The post quickly spread across social media, drawing widespread appreciation. One user commented:
“Mad respect. Make this open source — we all need this.”
Another wrote:
“AI used for the right reasons. Good work!”
Some commenters, however, noted that such methods require technical understanding and that ChatGPT has built-in safeguards to prevent misuse.
A reminder of rising digital risks
Cybersecurity experts have stressed that while the incident demonstrates creativity, citizens should remain cautious and report scams rather than engage directly. They warned that scammers are increasingly adopting sophisticated tactics, making public vigilance essential.