Scammers use AI to fake videos in new scheme
News & Politics
Introduction
In an alarming new trend, scammers are employing artificial intelligence to create realistic fake videos that are deceiving people on social media. One victim, Stacy Spano, recently shared her unsettling experience after she received a video call via the Messenger app. The call appeared to come from her friend Sarah Sandin, featuring an eerily accurate depiction in both appearance and voice.
During the call, Stacy could barely hear Sarah, who managed to convey that her Facebook account had been hacked. Moments later, Stacy received an access code on her phone, which she unwittingly sent to the caller. Within no time, her Facebook account began broadcasting a post that seemed to sell her father's vehicles, appliances, and furniture—a distressing development that began sending shockwaves among her friends.
As the situation escalated, Stacy's friends began receiving video messages that once again looked and sounded remarkably like her, further perpetuating the fraudulent sale of items. Stacy expressed her fear, saying, "I have a very distinct voice, so when people say they were talking to me, it’s scary."
It turns out that Sarah Sandin herself had fallen prey to a similar tactic. She received a video message where the AI-generated likeness of a friend appeared to communicate with her, leading to her also sending an access code. This incident demonstrated how advanced these scams have become, as the AI-generated videos were able to mislead even those who knew the victims.
Cybersecurity expert Dominic Trakus explains that scammers are manipulating online videos to fabricate AI avatars that convincingly imitate real individuals. He notes that even a single still image can be utilized to produce a video of this nature, with text-to-speech algorithms adept at mimicking the original person’s mannerisms.
To illustrate this, Trakus created an AI-generated video of himself using a short clip, demonstrating how indistinguishable it can be from reality. He vehemently advises anyone fearful of being targeted by such scams to minimize the information they share online and leverage privacy settings on their social media platforms, thereby restricting access to their content.
Both Sarah and Stacy express concern for future incidents, fearing that their digital likenesses could be exploited further to solicit money from their friends and family without their knowledge.
Keywords
- AI
- Scammers
- Fake videos
- Social media
- Cybersecurity
- Access code
- Fraudulent sales
- Avatar
- Mannerisms
- Privacy settings
FAQ
What is the recent trend involving scammers and AI?
Scammers are utilizing artificial intelligence to create realistic fake videos of individuals, deceiving their friends and family on social media platforms.
How did the scam occur for Stacy Spano?
Stacy received a video call from what appeared to be her friend Sarah, who claimed her Facebook account had been hacked. Stacy unwittingly sent an access code provided during the call, leading to fraudulent posts on her Facebook page.
Can AI-generated videos mislead people?
Yes, AI-generated videos can convincingly mimic a person's voice and appearance, making it challenging for friends and family to differentiate between the real and fake.
What precautions should people take to avoid these scams?
It is advised to limit the amount of information shared online and utilize privacy settings on social media to restrict who can access personal content.
What did cybersecurity expert Dominic Trakus demonstrate?
Trakus created an AI-generated video of himself to showcase how indistinguishable AI can be from real video content, highlighting the need for awareness and precautions against such scams.