How To Identify And Avoid Deepfake Scams (2023-24)

Introduction – Deepfake Scams

Have you ever received a call, an email, or a message from someone who claimed to be a friend, a celebrity, or a leader, but sounded or looked a bit off? If so, you might have met with the deepfake scams, a new and dangerous form of cybercrime that uses artificial intelligence to create realistic and convincing fake media.

In this blog post, we will explain what deepfakes / deepfake scams are is, common types of deefake scams, how to identify deepfake scams, and how to avoid deepfake scams and protect yourself from falling victim to deepfake scams.

What are Deepfake Scams / Deepfakes?

Deepfake scams are a type of cybercrime that uses artificial intelligence and deep learning to create realistic and convincing fake content, often in the form of videos, audio recordings, or images. The aim of the deepfake scams are to deceive, manipulate, or harm the targets or viewers of the fake content, by impersonating, defaming, or blackmailing them.

The term “deepfake” is a combination of the words “deep learning” and “fake.” Deep learning is a type of machine learning that uses artificial neural networks to learn from data. Fake, in this context, refers to the fact that deepfakes are manipulated or fabricated.

How deepfake technology works ? 

Deepfake technology uses machine learning algorithms, such as neural networks, autoencoders, and generative adversarial networks, to analyze, process, and generate large amounts of data, such as images, videos, and audio, by finding patterns and features in the data.

This technology encode and compress the data, and obtain a latent representation of the target, which contains the basic information that the algorithms will use to create the deepfake.

Deepfake technology can also produce new data from the latent representation of the target, and make it realistic and convincing, by using another source of data, such as the face, mouth, or voice of another person or object, to swap or blend it with the target, creating a hybrid or modified output.

Common Types Of Deepfake Scams

1. Voice Fraud

Deepfake scams that use synthetic voice to impersonate someone else, such as a CEO, a friend, or a family member, and ask the target to do something, such as sending money, revealing information, or performing actions that may harm them or others.

2. Fake News

Deepfake scams that create fake news, propaganda, or hoaxes, that spread false or misleading information, and influence public opinion and behavior.

For example, deepfake scams can fabricate political speeches, interviews, or events, that can sway the outcome of elections, or incite violence or unrest.

3. Fake Interviews

Deepfake scams that create fake interviews, testimonials, or reviews, that manipulate the emotions, beliefs, or actions of individuals or groups, by exploiting their psychological biases or vulnerabilities. 

For example, deepfake scams can create fake endorsements, testimonials, or reviews, that persuade consumers to buy products or services.

4. Honey Trapping

Deepfake scams that create fake profiles, accounts, or identities, that impersonate celebrities, influencers, or leaders, and lure the targets into online relationships, and then extort money, information, or favors from them.

5. Identity Theft

Deepfake scams that steal the identity and reputation of individuals or organizations, by impersonating them or defaming them. For example, deepfake scams can create fake pornographic or abusive content, that damage the dignity and reputation of the targets.

Deepfake scams are a serious threat to cybersecurity, political stability, individual and corporate finances, reputations, and more. Therefore, it is important to be aware and vigilant of the potential uses and abuses of deepfake technology, and take appropriate measures to prevent or mitigate its harmful effects, such as detection, verification, regulation, and ethics.

Related: Read out our full article on Industries disrupted by Emerging Technologies

How to Identify Deepfake Scams ?

Poorly made deepfakes may be easy to identify, but higher-quality deepfakes can be challenging. Continuous advances in technology make detection more difficult. Here are some tips on how to identify deepfake scams:

1. Be skeptical of videos – telltale characteristics

If a video seems too good to be true, it probably is. This is especially true of videos of celebrities or politicians saying or doing things that they would never normally do. There can be specific telltale characteristics like : 

– Unnatural eye movement: A lack of blinking or irregular blinking patterns can indicate a deepfake, as the algorithms may not capture the subtle eye movements of a real person.

– Unnatural facial expressions:  A mismatch between the facial expressions and the emotions or context of the speech can indicate a deepfake, as the algorithms may not be able to accurately reproduce the nuances of human emotions.

– Unnatural audio: A mismatch between the audio and video, such as poor lip synchronization, distorted voice, or inconsistent accent, can indicate a deepfake, as the algorithms may not be able to seamlessly blend the audio and video sources.

– Unnatural lighting or shadows: Inconsistent lighting or shadows on the face or the background can indicate a deepfake, as the algorithms may not be able to adjust the lighting of the original video to match the new face or scene.

2. Do your research

Researchers are developing various techniques to identify deepfakes, including analyzing facial movements, detecting audio manipulation, and examining video metadata and Human Expert Review.

Several tools are available to help identify deepface scams. Here are some some services and tools:

Deepfake Detection Software such as “Deeptrace” and “Sensity.AI” These tools use a combination of machine learning techniques to analyze facial movements, audio patterns, and video metadata.

Online Deepfake Detectors like “Reality Check” and “Deepware” allow users to upload videos or audio recordings for analysis and potential identification as deepfakes. These services typically use machine learning algorithms and may involve human reviewers in certain cases.

Social Media Deepfake Detection Tools: Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter (X) have implemented measures to detect and remove deepfakes from their platforms. These tools use machine learning to identify suspicious content and may involve human review for verification.

Future directions include improving machine learning models, developing new detection techniques, making detection tools more accessible, promoting media literacy, and collaborating across industries.

3. Verify the source.

Before you share a video, make sure you know who created it and where it came from. You can often do this by checking the video’s description or by searching for information about the video online.

Related: Read out our full article on How Emerging Technologies affecting Indian Society

Recent Deepfake Scams Examples

– “Elon Musk Bitcoin Pro Scam” (2022): This scam used a deepfake video of Elon Musk to promote a fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme. The video showed Musk appearing to endorse a new cryptocurrency called “Bitcoin Pro.” The video was widely shared on social media and led to many people losing money.

– “Tom Brady Future Wealth Scam” (2023): This scam used a deepfake video of Tom Brady to promote a fake investment scheme. The video showed Brady appearing to endorse a new investment company called “Future Wealth.” The video was also widely shared on social media and led to many people losing money.

– “Indian Actor Charity Scam” (2023): Bollywood star Rashmika Mandanna engaging in inappropriate behavior. The video turned out to be a deepfake created using artificial intelligence algorithms.

– “Fake Zelenskyy Video” (2023): This scam used a deepfake video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to spread pro-Russian propaganda. The video showed Zelenskyy appearing to surrender to Russia. The video was widely shared on social media and caused widespread panic and confusion in Ukraine.

– “Fake Obama COVID-19 Video” (2020): This scam used a deepfake video of former U.S. President Barack Obama to spread misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. The video showed Obama appearing to endorse a false cure for the virus. The video was widely shared on social media and caused widespread alarm and confusion.

– “Fake CEO Scam” (2019): This scam used a deepfake video of a CEO of a British energy company to trick employees into transferring $220,000 to a Hungarian supplier. The video showed the CEO appearing to authorize the transfer of funds. The video was convincing enough to fool the employees, and they transferred the money without question.

These are just a few examples of the many deepfake scams that are happening every day. As deepfake technology continues to become more sophisticated, we can expect to see even more scams in the future.

Related: Read out our full article on Importance of Emotional Intelligence

How To Avoid Deepfake Scams

FAQs  – How To Identify And Avoid Deepfake Scams

1. How can you detect deepfake?

There are a few ways to detect deepfake. One way is to look for telltale signs of manipulation, such as unnatural facial movements, glitches and artifacts, or asynchronous audio-video sync.

Another way is to verify the source and context of the video or audio clip. You can also consult fact-checking websites or use deepfake detection software.

2. How can we protect against deepfakes?

There are a few things you can do to protect yourself from deepfakes.

First, be skeptical of anything that seems too good to be true.

Second, pay attention to the details of the video or audio clip. Look for signs of manipulation, such as unnatural facial movements or glitches.

Third, verify the source of the video or audio clip. Make sure it is from a reputable source. Fourth, be careful about what you share online. Don’t share anything that you are not sure is authentic.

3. What are the 4 most common scams?

The four most common scams are:

– Identity theft: This is when someone steals your personal information, such as your Social Security number or credit card number.

– Investment scams: This is when someone tries to trick you into investing in a fake or fraudulent investment.

– Romance scams: This is when someone pretends to be in love with you in order to gain your trust and then steal your money.

– Phishing scams: This is when someone sends you an email or text message that appears to be from a legitimate company in order to trick you into revealing personal information.

4. Which is the most common way frauds are identified?

The most common way frauds are identified is through victim reporting. When a victim realizes they have been scammed, they often report the crime to the authorities. This helps the authorities to track down the scammers and bring them to justice.

5. Which apps detect scammer number?

There are a few apps that can detect scammer numbers. These apps use a variety of methods to identify scammer numbers, such as checking the number against a database of known scammer numbers and analyzing the caller ID.

6. What are some examples of deepfakes?

Deepfakes can be used to create a wide variety of content, including:

– Fake videos of celebrities or politicians saying or doing things they never did.

– Fake news stories that are designed to mislead people.

– Fake social media profiles that are used to spread misinformation or propaganda.

– Revenge porn videos that are created to blackmail or extort victims.

– Fake advertisements that are designed to deceive consumers.

7. What are the negative uses of deepfakes?

Deepfakes can be used for a variety of negative purposes, including:

– Spreading misinformation and propaganda.

– Damaging people’s reputations.

– Blackmailing or extorting victims.

– Scamming people.

– Eroding trust in institutions and democracy.

8. What are some examples of how deep fakes can be used positively?

Deepfakes can also be used for some positive purposes, such as:

– Creating educational videos or simulations.

– Making movies or TV shows more realistic.

– Personalizing marketing campaigns.

– Helping people with disabilities communicate more effectively.

– Creating art and entertainment.

9. What are deepfake cyber attacks?

Deepfake cyber attacks are a type of cyber attack that uses deepfakes to deceive victims. For example, a cyber attacker could use a deepfake to impersonate a CEO and trick an employee into transferring money to a fraudulent account.

10. Is deepfake a cyber threat?

Yes, deepfakes are a cyber threat. Deepfakes can be used to deceive victims in a variety of ways, and they can be very difficult to detect. As deepfake technology continues to develop, it is likely that we will see more and more deepfake cyber attacks in the future.

11. Is deepfakes illegal?

The legality of deepfakes is a complex issue. In some cases, deepfakes may be considered illegal, such as when they are used to create revenge porn or to commit fraud. However, there is no clear legal definition of what constitutes a “deepfake,” and the laws governing deepfakes are still evolving.

12. Is it safe to use deepfake app?

The safety of using deepfake apps depends on how the apps are used. If you use a deepfake app to create something for fun or for educational purposes, it is probably safe. However, if you use a deepfake app to create something that could harm others, it is not safe.

It is important to remember that deepfakes are a powerful tool that can be used for both good and evil. It is important to use deepfakes responsibly and to be aware of the potential risks involved.