Who Deceives Better: Human or GenAI? A Quantitative Study on the Impact of Email Type on Consumer Vulnerability and the Moderating Role of Fear of Online Identity Theft
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2025-07-01
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en
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Generative AI (GenAI) is increasingly being used for both positive and negative ways, and it raises new online-security risks. Spear phishing attacks become more effective and efficient when created with GenAI, causing more victims. This study tested whether email type (GenAI-generated vs. human-written) influences consumers’ vulnerability and whether fear of online identity theft moderates this relationship. In a between-subjects online experiment, participants reviewed genuine, GenAI-generated and human-generated spear phishing emails and indicated whether they would interact with each and how. Their answers revealed whether they deemed each email legitimate or suspicious resulting in a score of detection accuracy. Regression analysis showed participants interacted significantly more with GenAI-generated spear-phishing emails, signaling higher vulnerability, whereas fear of identity theft neither reduced vulnerability nor altered the email type effect. The findings underscore the need for training that teaches people to detect phishing cues, especially those unique to GenAI content, by improving knowledge and detection skills rather than relying on fear appeals. Future work should explore GenAI’s role in other phishing formats and examine whether behavioral measures mediate links between fear and vulnerability
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen