Using AI to create fake images and voices to scam money.

On February 2nd, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat, General Director of the AntiMalware Research Center at Bkav, stated that even if you make a video call and see the face of a relative or friend and hear their voice, it doesn't necessarily mean you're talking to that person.

Nguyen Thanh Huong (name changed) is an office worker in Hanoi . During a conversation with a friend via Facebook Messenger, Huong's friend said goodbye and ended the conversation, but suddenly messaged back, asking to borrow money and requesting that the money be transferred to a bank account.

Although the account name matched her friend's, Huong still had a slight suspicion and requested a video call to verify. Her friend readily agreed, but the call only lasted a few seconds due to an "unstable internet connection," according to her friend's explanation. Having seen her friend's face in the video call and hearing the correct voice, Huong no longer doubted and transferred the money. However, only after the successful transfer did Huong realize she had fallen into a hacker's trap.

Many people have recently fallen victim to financial scams using Deepfake technology and involving AI (Artificial Intelligence).

Huong wasn't the only victim; many other victims, including her friends and relatives, were also scammed in a similar way. The amount of money the scammers obtained from these types of Facebook accounts reached tens of millions of VND.

In the latter half of 2023, Bkav continuously received reports and requests for assistance from victims regarding similar scams. According to Bkav experts, in Huong's case, the perpetrator gained control of her Facebook account but did not immediately take complete control. Instead, they secretly monitored her, waiting for an opportunity to impersonate the victim and ask for loans from her friends and relatives.

They use AI to create a fake video mimicking the face and voice of the Facebook account owner (Deepfake). When asked to make a video call for verification, they agree to the call but then quickly disconnect to avoid detection.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Dat from Bkav's AntiMalware Research Center, the ability to collect and analyze user data through AI allows for the creation of sophisticated phishing strategies. This also means that the complexity of phishing scenarios combining Deepfake and GPT will increase, making phishing more difficult to identify.

Bkav advises users to be especially vigilant, not to provide personal information (ID card number, bank account details, OTP codes, etc.), and not to transfer money to strangers via phone, social media, or websites with fraudulent characteristics.

When receiving loan/money transfer requests via social media, it's advisable to use alternative verification methods such as phone calls or other communication channels to confirm the details.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/canh-bao-su-dung-ai-tao-hinh-anh-va-giong-noi-gia-mao-de-lua-tien-196240202191252818.htm