The Cyber Crime Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police have issued an advisory on fake video calls that are being made by scamsters using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
Deepfake technology is being used to perpetrate several types of fraudulent scams, by creating highly convincing and realistic fake content, often using AI to manipulate audio, video, or images. Initially, this technology was primarily utilised for entertainment purposes, enabling filmmakers and content creators to seamlessly integrate actors into scenes or impersonate historical figures. However, as the technology evolved, so did its misuse by criminals seeking to exploit the power of deception, the police have said.
Additional Director General of Police, Cyber Crime Wing Sanjay Kumar said, “The scam involving AI-generated deepfake video calls typically follows a series of carefully orchestrated steps, combining technological sophistication with psychological manipulation. The scamster creates a fake profile, often using stolen images or publicly-available photographs of trusted individuals, like friends or family members. They then use AI-powered deepfake technology to create highly realistic video calls on social media/other online platforms and impersonate someone the victim knows, such as a friend, family member, or colleague to deceive them into thinking it’s a genuine conversation. Later, they create a sense of urgency and request the victim to transfer money to their bank accounts.”
