Hello! This is Shemihaza, a Guardian (Sentinel). Lately, we've been hearing more and more about "AI scams" and "deepfakes" in the news. While the evolution of AI (Artificial Intelligence) brings us convenient lives, it's also starting to be used for very terrifying crimes. Believe it or not, a time has come when AI can perfectly forge even your face and voice. Experts even say that "the biggest threat in 2026 is AI fraud." Since free tools now allow anyone to easily create fakes, the damage is spreading rapidly.
Terrifying Tactics Controlled by AI! Beware of Lifelike Fakes
Scammers use AI with sophisticated tactics that make you think, "It couldn't possibly be fake!" to target your precious money and information. Here are some of the main methods:
- ▸① Video or voice calls impersonating "the boss" or "family": AI is used to perfectly mimic voices and faces, then money is demanded under the guise of an emergency. In Hong Kong, an incident occurred where all participants in a video conference were AI fakes, and approximately 3.8 billion yen was extorted. In 2019, a German executive's voice was perfectly mimicked by AI, resulting in 220,000 euros (over 30 million yen) being defrauded.
- ▸② Investment scams impersonating celebrities offering profitable deals: Fake videos and advertisements using celebrities' faces and voices are spread on social media, enticing people to invest with sweet promises like "you'll definitely make money," and attempting to defraud them.
- ▸③ Scams posing as police officers or public officials to incite anxiety: Impersonating fake police officers or government officials via video call, they incite anxiety by claiming you're "involved in a crime," and then demand money or try to extract personal information.
- ▸④ Romance scams where an attractive person is faked to extort money: Approaching victims using fake beautiful AI-generated photos and attractive profiles, they foster romantic feelings before attempting to defraud them of money.
Checkpoints to Protect You and Your Loved Ones
- ✓If you receive a phone or video call discussing "urgent money matters" or asking you to "keep it a secret," pause and think, or verify it.
- ✓If you receive an important discussion or an urgent message, confirm if the person is truly who they say they are by using a pre-arranged codeword or verifying through another contact method (e.g., calling a registered phone number, sending an email).
- ✓If you notice anything "unusual" during a conversation, such as unnatural mouth movements, infrequent blinking, or odd background elements, immediately stop the interaction and suspect it might be a scam.
- ✓When publishing your face photo or voice on social media, review your privacy settings frequently to limit the audience so that unknown individuals cannot see them.
Where to Seek Help When in Trouble
If you feel uneasy thinking, "Could this be a scam?" or if you have fallen victim, please don't suffer alone; consult immediately. Contact the Consumer Hotline (phone number: 188) or the Police Consultation Dial (phone number: #9110). If you suspect unauthorized use of your credit card, call your card company right away.