There was a time when you could trust if you saw a photo or video with your own eyes.
Previously, I had to be wary of phones impersonating bank and front door scams, but at least I knew that the videos of public figures I saw on TV and cell phones were real.
But new technology means that most people can create videos known as deepfakes designed to steal your cash.
Scammers are currently using AI to create compelling portraits of celebrities.
A finder on the money comparison website showed 2,000 people 8-second 5-second clips (some real, some fakes) of influential celebrities and public figures such as Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos.
They asked them to identify which ones were real and which ones were fake AI.
The fake clips were so persuasive that over 96% of people got at least one wrong.
You can take the following tests to see which number will be correct: And read some tips on how to identify fake scam videos.
Can you find a deepfake? Finder asked 2,000 people to organize the scams from real videos of celebrities – it didn't prove easy
What is Deepfake?
A deepfake is a video, photo, or audio clip that is modified or created using artificial intelligence.
Deepfake Technology uses existing audio clips, videos and photos to create videos and photos to show you what you haven't done or say.
Portraits of people are reproduced in a deepfake and convincing way using machine learning. This is where a computer is trained in a person's existing hours, says Finder.
This technology allows you to interact with existing videos and create new videos. It is also possible to create using free software available online, so it is not limited to those with expert technology skills.
The technology has benign uses, such as creating creative works and funny videos for social media, but scammers are tied to technology and using it to steal money from victims in cruel new scams.
Is it real or fake? Test Finder's Test below to see if you can find AI spoofing
How does Deepfake Scams work?
One in five people encountered a deepfake or AI-related scam, says Finder, and one in three of these fell out of a ruse.
This means that 3.4 million people across the country may have been seduced by these modified videos and photos.
Scams often start on social media. There, the video may show celebrities, daytime TV stars, or other public figures in favor of new investments that “can make a lot of money.”
However, investment is not realistic. And celebrities don't support it.
Instead, it's a fake video composed by a scammer. They are pulling strings and tempting viewers to “invest” their money in fake plans.
When you respond to an ad, you will be invited to invest a portion of your money. They often show you fake screenshots and account details with your rising returns.
But it's simply a ploy designed to let go of your hard-earned cash to even more people.
Deepfake videos are also used in romance scams to convince anyone they think is sending messages to victims online and also eliminate doubt.
These AI scams are not limited to pop stars and reality shows names.
Top financial figures, including Hargreaves Lansdown co-founder Peter Hargreaves and former Fidelity Star Fund Manager Anthony Bolton, both recently stole likenesses by a scammer who wanted to trick viewers into separating cash.
For example, videos generated by fake AI showing videos that look like Boltons have invited investors, for example, to join the Stock Picking WhatsApp group.
The video was not Bolton's, but investors were seduced by the video's portrait.
This is a money investigation that discovered this fake video was behind a pump and dump scam, and the scammers used whatsapp group to share “expert” advice on stocks to buy to inflate prices.
Then, after the extent to which the victim invested the money, it surged, and it plunged in. Shareholders all over the world lost their money in no time.
But at the same time, an anonymous group of con artists (probably members of organized crime gangs) became very rich.
Not only famous numbers can be copied into these deepfake videos.
A scammer can also impersonate you to open a new bank account in your name, or mimic a loved one with financial or medical needs to let go of your cash.
Will it be a victim?
At one point, you likely saw a video that was modified or created using Deepfake technology, and believe it is authentic.
Finder presented eight video clips to thousands of adults to see if they could correctly guess which celebrity videos are real and which are deepfakes.
The results are shocking. Only 3.7% of people who watched these videos correctly guessed which videos were real and which were fake.
Only 57% were able to correctly identify more than half of the video clips, while only 18% scored 8 or more.
The average score was 4.8 out of the eight correctly guessed videos.
Please let me know your Score in the comments section.
“We've seen a lot of money on our website,” said Louise Bastock, Finder's personal finance expert. Approximately 6.4% of the population is already a considerable amount, and they just keep growing.
“In general, we were able to guess some videos correctly in our quiz, but virtually no one got the right thing, which is dangerous.
“You have to catch it once and it can have devastating consequences.”
Generation Z viewers, who are generally exposed to deep-fark videos on social media, scored very well as 74% correctly guessed more than half of the videos, as they averaged 5.7 videos.
The Millennials scored strong as they correctly guessed about 4.9 videos of the eight videos. However, people over the age of 61 won just 4.2, making it inadequate.
