Bandai: Beware of AI-Generated Scams

Bandai, the Japanese holding company that also owns the Namco division, is not only involved in video games but is also, and above all, a manufacturer of toys, action figures, and various merchandise, especially related to the world of Manga and Anime.

Recently, the company has seen a proliferation of reports from users complaining about service problems or non-delivery of purchased products: a more careful investigation revealed that these users had been involved in scams orchestrated by exploiting the company's logos to create advertisements generated using Artificial Intelligence to be as similar as possible to the originals.

As a consequence of this unpleasant event, Bandai has published a press release in which it alerts its users, fans, and common buyers to increase their level of vigilance, pointing out that all its promotions and advertisements go through its official social media profiles. At the same time, the company is taking action to sue the perpetrators of these scams, if only for the [obviously] unauthorized use of their logos and trademarks.

To help fans correctly discern warnings, Bandai noted that the two logos - red and blue - are used for different products: the red logo is intended for products designed for younger age groups, such as card games, Tamagotchi, Gashapon capsules, while the blue logo is linked to model kits [including Gundam Gunpla] or prizes from lotteries or Banpresto "claw" machines.