Deepfake: The AI That’s Too Good at Scamming You and Ruining Your Life!

Deepfake Technology: A Double-Edged Knife

Deepfake technology, which involves the manipulation of images, videos, or audio using artificial intelligence, has emerged as one of the most dangerous advancements in recent years. While deepfakes have legitimate uses in entertainment, such as resurrecting deceased celebrities for films or creating AI-generated voices for songs, their negative impact has been growing—particularly in the world of scams and blackmail.

What Is Deepfake Technology and Its Uses?

Deepfake refers to the use of AI tools or advanced video editing software to create realistic images, videos, or audio that are manipulated to mislead viewers. It has found positive uses in the entertainment industry, with AI-generated voices from late singers and the recreation of deceased actors’ appearances for films. However, this same technology is being exploited for more malicious purposes.

How Scammers Are Using Deepfake for Fraud

One of the most disturbing ways scammers have started using deepfake technology is for financial fraud. Fraudsters manipulate videos or voices to impersonate trusted individuals, such as family members, friends, or public figures to trick victims into transferring money or providing sensitive information.

A notable incident occurred in Bengaluru, India, where two residents were duped out of nearly Rs 95 lakh by deepfake videos featuring prominent businessmen like N.R. Narayana Murthy and Mukesh Ambani. The scam involved fake investment platforms promoted through these deepfakes. This case highlights the growing threat of deepfake technology in financial fraud and the importance of verifying online content before taking any action.

Read the full article on the Times of India

Protecting Yourself from Deepfake Scams

With social media platforms full of personal images, including those of minors and children, scammers can easily use these to create deepfakes for blackmail purposes.

The victims of such scams often face a moral dilemma, they know the images are fake, but the fear of reputational damage compels them to comply.

How to Protect Yourself:

  • Be cautious about what you post online, especially images and videos of yourself or your loved ones.
  • Make your social network account private!
  • Don’t share sensitive information with unknown individuals, especially over social media or email.
  • In case of blackmail, stay calm. Do not panic, and remember that the images are often fake.

Key Tip: Don’t share everything about yourself and your loved ones on public social networks.

Sextortion and Deepfake: A Personal Experience

Two months ago, I received a sextortion email. At first, I panicked, unsure whether it was a scam or if someone was trying to manipulate me. After researching sextortion scams, I found many others had received similar emails, making the situation clearer.

Here’s a sample of the sextortion emails I received:

Sextortion Mail Example 1 Sextortion Mail Example 2

Zerodha recently released a video on financial scams involving deepfakes. Be aware and stay informed about these scams!