Authorities in a particular state have recently issued a significant cautionary message in response to a concerning rise in fraudulent activities.
An alarming new trend of deceptive scams has caught the attention of law enforcement. Scammers are using advanced AI technology to create videos or messages that closely mimic the appearance of loved ones or even celebrities. The cunning tactics aim to deceive unsuspecting victims into making fraudulent investments or relinquishing their hard-earned money and personal data.
On their Facebook page, the NSW Police issued a public alert, cautioning individuals against falling for the increasing prevalence of deep-fake scams. These scams specifically target and exploit vulnerable Australians.
“Beware of deepfake scams. Don’t fall for the illusion. Protect yourself and your loved ones from digital deception,” police said.
Fraudsters have been exploiting the power of deepfake technology and AI to carry out fraudulent activities. They manipulate videos, images, and even create convincing audio by altering voice clips.
Scammers often resort to creating fake footage or images of well-known individuals, including celebrities, politicians, or even someone’s close family members. Scammers then manipulate unsuspecting individuals into making fraudulent investments using these deceptive assets.
In some instances, individuals unlawfully acquire personal information or banking details from others. Hunter Valley resident Gary Meachen shared his personal encounter with scammers, recounting how he lost his entire $400,000 savings to a well-organised investment scheme promoted on Facebook.
In an interview with A Current Affair, Meachen expressed concerns about the advertisement, suggesting that it may have created the false impression that billionaire Elon Musk, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, former prime minister Julia Gillard, and various media celebrities and presenters were endorsing the alleged scheme. However, the videos showcasing individuals in the advertisements were all created using deepfake technology.
“You’d go and look at it three times a day just to see how much money you were making. We thought we’d make a million within two weeks,” Meachen told the program, only to find he and his wife had lost money from their bank account after their investment.
Meachen has reported the scam to the authorities, according to his statement. The NSW Police issued a warning, advising individuals to be vigilant and observe any irregularities in videos. These irregularities may include forced facial expressions, excessive emphasis on certain words, distortions around the hands, discrepancies in lip-synching, and abnormal blinking patterns.
“Protect yourself and your loved ones from digital deception,” their alert stated.