Understanding the Rise of Deepfake Scams
Scams and misinformation are widespread across the internet. Scammers use developing technology to catch people out in new and unfamiliar ways, so it’s important to keep up-to-date on internet dangers. Deepfakes are one of these dangers, and they can be very convincing. Read on to find out what a deepfake is and how you can protect yourself.
What is a deepfake?
A deepfake is a video, image or audio clip that has been digitally created or altered. They commonly use the likeness of real people, from celebrities to regular people. Deepfakes can be used to make it look like anyone has said or done things that they never did, sometimes for malicious reasons. For example, a common scam is creating deepfake videos of trusted celebrities telling people false information.
Are deepfakes legal?
There is currently no law regulating the use of deepfakes. However, deepfakes are often used to facilitate illegal activity such as fraud or election manipulation. People are more vulnerable to scams when it appears that a celebrity or someone that they know has endorsed or authorised the activity.
Many social media platforms allow AI-generated content. However, if an account is pretending to be someone else and using deepfakes to do so, this is often against terms of service. Reporting spoof accounts to the platform hosting them is a good way to get them taken down and prevent other people from being scammed.
Why are deepfakes becoming more common?
While technology improving is generally a good thing, it can create more opportunities for malicious activity. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have become more accessible, almost anyone can make a deepfake. This has led to altered content becoming more widespread.
How can I spot a deepfake?
Deepfakes are becoming harder and harder to identify. Some new tools create AI videos that are incredibly difficult to distinguish from the real thing. However, there are a few common mistakes that may help you to spot a deepfake:
- Distorted body parts – particularly hands
- Mouth movements that do not fully match speech
- Unnatural tone when speaking, or even a voice that does not belong to the person in the video
- Out of character activity
- Illogical shadows
- Unexpected or inconsistent textures and colours
- Unusual reflections on glasses or windows
- Misaligned facial hair
Looking at the source of content can also give you clues. If an account has only just been created, this may be a sign that it was created disingenuously. Some fraud accounts use a similar username to existing accounts in order to pretend to be them, so look out for misspellings of well-known handles.
Report crime anonymously
If you have information about a crime but do not want to share your identity with the Police, you can report using Crime Stoppers Bermuda. We are a registered charity, aiming to encourage the reporting of criminal activity. Our online form and phone line do not collect any tracking data, so your tip cannot be traced back to you.
Use our online form or call 800-8477 to report a crime.
