AI grifters are creating fake Black people to sell Shein junk

The Verge found AI-made influencer accounts on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook posing as marginalized small-business owners to sell dropshipped products.

These accounts use emotional videos, automated replies, and fake handmade backstories to build trust and drive purchases.

Many items are identical to cheaper goods sold on Shein, yet are marketed as unique or handmade.

The most successful scam accounts have large followings and strong engagement, showing how generative AI is scaling deceptive commerce.