Kuala Lumpur, June 8 – Former Finance Minister Lim Guang Eng warned the public about fake videos circulating online fake videos using artificial intelligence to mimic his voice and image in what appears to be an investment scam.
According to Free Malaysia todayLim said the manipulated video incorrectly shows that he supports the investment scheme, and appears to be based on an old interview recorded in English more than a decade ago.
“I absolutely want to be clear. I've never asked anyone to invest in anything. I'm not in business. I'm in politics,” he said at an event today at Air Puti in Penang.
“They took the old clips, changed them to make them look new and changed the language.”
Lim pointed out that the fake version is in Mandarin and the original is in English, and emphasized that other speaker, Ooi Kee Beng, executive director of the Penang Institute, would not speak Mandarin.
“That's the only red flag,” he said.
He said the video was created using AI and reported the issue to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Committee.
He urged the public to be cautious about unsolicited investment videos and messages circulating on platforms such as WhatsApp.
“The early attempts were obviously fake, but this is more convincing, especially for those who trust me as an elderly person or public figure,” he said.
Lim added that the scammer has used his likeness in at least five digitally modified videos so far.
“They exploit the trust of the people, so I need to speak to them to stop people falling because of these scams,” he said.
“Always check with official sources. Please refer to my verified statement. I will not ask anyone to invest in anything.”
