Criminals are using AI tools like ChatGPT to con shoppers. Here's how to spot scams.

Cybercriminals tend to pounce on shoppers around the holidays, posing as retailers offering deep discounts in order to capture consumers' spending on gifts. This year, scammers based in the U.S. and abroad have a new tool at their disposal that's helping to upgrade their efforts: ChatGPT, the generative artificial intelligence chatbot that can mimic human speech and perform a variety of tasks.

Cybersecurity experts note that they've detected a recent uptick in sophisticated AI-generated spam messages, making it harder for consumers to differentiate between legitimate deals and scams.

"Unfortunately, criminals are getting much better at writing English. ChatGPT is a big help for them in crafting messages," Michael Bordash, senior vice president of Syniverse, a telecom company, told CBS MoneyWatch. "You don't have to be a proficient English speaker to have ChatGPT write a campaign for you."