Well, now it appears that deepfake videos are being employed as part of online scamming schemes. A recent incident involved a man from India who fell victim to such a scam, resulting in a loss of Rs 40,000 (approximately $490).
The imposter even mentioned the names of several other former colleagues to strengthen his story. During the call, the scammer asked Radhakrishnan to provide Rs 40,000 for urgent assistance to a relative in the hospital.
Deepfake video scams may happen more often than you think
Not long ago, in Baotou, China, a scammer used AI-powered face-swapping technology during a video call to pose as a close friend of the victim, convincing them to transfer an amount of 4.3 million yuan (over $600,000).
What is actually a deepfake video?
A deepfake video is an AI-generated video that convincingly depicts someone else, making distinguishing between real and fake videos challenging. AI technology is employed to analyze and process data, such as facial images and voice recordings, facilitating the creation of realistic deepfake videos that closely imitate a person’s appearance and voice.
How can you protect yourself from deepfake video calls?
With AI rapidly advancing and legislation struggling to keep pace, it is crucial to be aware of how to recognize deepfake videos. Here are some key points to consider:
- Video Quality: Typically, deepfake videos have poor quality. If the suspicious video is from an online source, check for watermarks or other indications that it may be stolen.
- Loops & Cuts: Many fake videos loop back to the beginning after a certain amount of time or abruptly stop at the end without properly concluding the video call.
- Video Sizing: When someone is making a fake video call, they often resize the video to fit the webcam window or the app they are using. This resizing distorts the video’s proportions, so check for excessively widened or elongated faces.
- Contacts: Is the person calling you listed in your contacts? If not, think carefully if the name means anything to you or if you know such a person.
- Content: If the video call appears to be from someone you know, and their contact details are accurate, but something still feels off, consider the content of the video. Does the person who is purportedly calling you actually talk like this or ask the person something only you two might know, like a shared memory, for example?
