WhatsApp alert: Scammers use AI to copy friends’ faces and steal money

WhatsApp scams come in all shapes and forms, with the latest version involving AI with deepfake videos. Yes, deepfake video calls are being used by scammers to trick people into paying for seemingly urgent reasons.

The first victim of the scam was a 72-year-old man from Kerala who was reportedly scammed out of Rs 40,000 using a deepfake video call from WhatsApp. Following a complaint from PS Radhakrishnan, police in Corikord City filed an FIR and said they received a text message from an alleged friend, according to media reports. The victim also received a call from the same person on WhatsApp asking for emergency medical bills. The victim didn’t know the identity of the person he was calling, so he asked someone he believed to be his friend to make a video call on his number. According to police reports, the victim only received a 30-second phone call in which he saw a close-up of the scammer’s face.

The victim said the call went smoothly and she was satisfied with the identity of the caller. He then transferred his 40,000 rupees to his own account via his UPI, no suspicion of any wrongdoing so far. However, the scammer decided to try his luck again and demanded the money again, which made Mr. Radhakrishnan skeptical.

So he decided to call the person who seemed to be calling him asking for money. Surprisingly, the friend denied asking for money or asking for money over the phone. At this point, the victim realized that she had been tricked into getting the money with her consent.

AI Deepfake Attacks Via WhatsApp: A Clear Concern

Deepfakes are the darkest form of AI, and this incident shows that scammers are now using this technology to trick people into extorting money. Deepfakes are easy to create using freely available online tools. With this tool, you can create faces for your friends and family and use them to fake medical emergencies and trick people into demanding money. In fact, such scams can also occur by using photos of known people (taken from social media accounts) and soliciting money from people on your contact list. Incidents like this are rampant these days, but are completely avoidable if users are proactive and conscious of dealing with such attacks.

WhatsApp DeepFake Video Scams: How to Avoid Falling Prey

Like all online scams these days, deepfake video scams can be prevented. Just stick to the basics and be aware of who you’re texting or talking to. Here are some tips:

Do not chat without knowing the other person’s true identity

Always verify the number of the person calling you with a financial request

If you see someone’s profile picture on WhatsApp asking for money, it’s a good idea to call them right away to see if they’ve made any demands.

Before sending money via UPI, always verify the account/mobile number you are sending money to.