Hello! I'm Shemhaza, your Sentinel. Today, I'm going to talk about a 'new type of scam' that far exceeds your imagination. What would you do if a beloved family member, friend, or trusted colleague at work turned out to be a 'fake' created by AI (Artificial Intelligence)? Such terrifying tactics are now rampant worldwide, known as 'AI scams' or 'deepfake scams.' If you think you've never seen or heard of them, you might be caught up in one before you know it.
Uncanny Resemblance! The Terrifying Tactics of AI and Deepfake Scams
AI scams use artificial intelligence technology to create videos and audio that look and sound completely authentic, then use them to deceive you. What's particularly frightening is their ability to perfectly mimic the voices and faces of people you know well. This technology is called 'deepfake.' It sounds like something out of a movie, but unfortunately, it's happening in reality. Let's look at the main tactics.
- ▸① **Collecting Personal Information:** Scammers gather photos, videos, and audio posted on social networking services (SNS) that you regularly use. With just a few seconds of audio, AI can perfectly recreate the voice of your loved one.
- ▸② **Generating 'Fakes':** Based on the collected information, AI creates incredibly realistic 'voices' and sometimes even 'videos.' The accuracy of this technology is so high that it's difficult to distinguish from the real thing just by listening or watching.
- ▸③ **Contact Posing as an Emergency:** Using fake voices or videos, scammers impersonate someone you trust and contact you. For example, they might feign an urgent situation to panic you, saying things like, 'I've been in an accident!', 'I've been arrested!', or 'The company needs an urgent transfer!'
- ▸④ **Demanding Money and Imposing Secrecy:** To individuals who are panicked and unable to make calm judgments, they demand money immediately, saying, 'I need money right now!' or 'Don't tell anyone!', often asking for cryptocurrency like Bitcoin, gift cards, or difficult-to-recover international transfers. If you transfer the money as instructed, you'll never get it back.
In fact, there's been a surge in incidents where AI is used to mimic children's voices to defraud money, as an evolved form of 'ore-ore詐欺' (It's me! scam) targeting family members living separately. Additionally, there are reports of significant financial losses where scammers impersonate a company CEO or boss, using deepfake video during meetings to instruct large sum transfers.
Checkpoints to Protect Yourself
You might think, 'I would never fall for that...', but AI scams can happen to anyone. However, with the right knowledge and a little mindfulness, you can protect yourself and your loved ones. Be sure to check the following points:
- ✓If there's a sudden request for money or personal information, always verify with the person through another method. Hang up the phone and confirm if the contact is truly from them using a contact method you normally use (a known phone number or messaging app).
- ✓Establish a 'secret password' among family members to be used only in emergencies. If you receive a suspicious call, ask for that password. AI won't be able to answer.
- ✓Strongly suspect fraud if you're rushed with phrases like 'right now' or 'don't tell anyone,' or if payment is requested via methods difficult to recover later, such as cryptocurrency or gift cards.
- ✓Review your SNS privacy settings and avoid oversharing information, such as limiting the visibility of photos or videos where your face or voice can be identified to 'friends only.'
- ✓Even if you see the person's face during a video call, don't assume it's real. AI technology can easily fake videos in this era.
Where to Seek Help When in Trouble
If you suspect an AI scam or think you might have become a victim, don't hesitate to seek help immediately instead of worrying alone. The Consumer Hotline (188) and the Police Consultation Service (#9110) are there to assist you. If it involves unauthorized credit card use, contact your card company immediately to have the usage stopped. Prompt action can minimize the damage.