Kerala man loses Rs 40,000 to AI-based Deepfake WhatsApp fraud, all about the new scam

By Divya BhatiAI is becoming part of our lives. From planning vacations to providing intelligent personal assistance, artificial intelligence is changing how humans see technology. However, not everything about AI is beneficial. As this new technology becomes part of everyone’s everyday lives, even bad actors like scammers are trying to update their tricks using AI. For instance, scammers are now using AI-based deepfake technology to steal money from people.

In a recently reported case of an AI-deepfake scam, a man from Kerala was cheated out of Rs 40,000 using AI-based deepfaking. According to Deccan Herald, the victim, Radhakrishnan, who is a native of Kozhikode, received a video call from an unknown number. Upon receiving the call, the image of the person on the video call was similar to one of his former colleagues in Andhra Pradesh. To gain his trust, the caller even mentioned the names of some of their common friends.

Thinking it was a genuine call, the victim continued the video call. However, a few minutes into the call, the caller requested the victim for Rs 40,000 for immediate assistance for a relative in the hospital. Wanting to help his friend, the victim agreed to help and sent the amount online. However, a short time later, the same person asked for Rs 35,000. But this time, the victim became suspicious. He subsequently contacted his former colleague to cross-check. It was then that he realised he had been cheated and the call was not genuine. The victim then reported the fraud to the police.

Following the complaint, the police started an investigation and tracked the transaction to a private bank in Maharashtra. The bank authorities later froze the account. According to the Kerala Police Cyber Cell, this is the first such cheating case in Kerala where the scammers used AI technology to fake videos. The racketeers create fake videos using pictures from social media. They can also find information like names of common friends from social media.

Police have further raised an alert against online cheating using AI-based deep fakes. They have cautioned people to double-check the veracity of such requests. The police have also asked people to alert the police over the helpline number 1930 swiftly in case of any cheating, so that the transaction can be frozen.

What is AI-based deep fake calls

But the question is how scammers managed to trick the victim over a video call? As the call goes live and there is no possibility of editing the clip? Well, as mentioned earlier, the scammers used deep fake technology to trick the victim.

AI-based deep fake calls is a type of scam that uses artificial intelligence to create fake videos or audio recordings of people. Scammers can create these calls impersonating a trusted friend or friend or family member to trick the victim into giving up personal information or money.

Deep Fakes are created using a technique called facial reenactment. This technique involves using AI to map the movements of one person’s face onto the face of another person in a video or audio recording. This can be done very convincingly, making it difficult to tell that the video or audio recording is real or fake.

While AI-based deep fake calls are a relatively new type of scam, it is becoming increasingly common across the globe. This is because the technology used to create deep fakes is becoming more accessible and affordable. What makes things more serious is that with deep fake video calls like the one in the above incident, it is difficult for innocent users to distinguish the reality behind the call. As not everyone is aware of this technology.

How to be safe from AI-based deep fake calls

While deep fake calls can be tricky, here are some tips on how to be safe from AI-based deep fake calls:

• Be suspicious of any calls from people that you do not know or that you do not expect. If someone claims to be a friend or family member but you’re unsure of their identity, ask them a personal question only they would know. If they are unable to provide a satisfactory answer, it’s probable that the call is fraudulent.
• Do not give out personal information or money to people that you do not know or trust. If someone calls you and asks for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card number, or asks for money, be aware not to share.
• If you suspect a call might be a deep fake or fraudulent, it’s best to end the call immediately and avoid answering any subsequent calls from that number. You can also independently reach out to the person using a verified phone number that you know belongs to them to verify the identity. This way, you can confirm the authenticity of the call and protect yourself from potential scams or impersonation.
• Report any suspicious calls to the police. If you receive a call that you think may be a deep fake, report it to the police.

Additionally, be aware of the signs of a deep fake call. These signs can include:

• The caller’s voice may sound different than you remember it.
• The caller may be asking for personal information that they should not know.
• The caller may be asking you to do something that you would not normally do, such as send money or give out your credit card number.