The proportion of deepfakes among all fraud cases has grown considerably in the UK over the last year, rising from from 1.2% of all fraud cases in 2022 to 5.9% in Q1 of 2023, according to a recent report. The more time goes on and this technology develops, the more realistic these deepfakes become, and this poses a real threat to consumers who may not even be aware that this technology exists.
As our new research shows, most Brits are unable to consistently tell the difference between real and AI generated videos. If the technology is used to manipulate messages from influential individuals – to show them asking for money or promoting a scam, for example – this is where the real danger comes in.
There are a few things you can do to keep an eye out for this type of scam:
1. Do your own independent research
If you encounter any form of content which is encouraging you to part with your money, make sure you conduct your own investigation into the opportunity. A quick Google search could reveal whether the video is real or not. You should also check with a respected news source like BBC News to see whether there are reports backing up what the person has said, or reports of an AI scam involving them. Taking a few minutes to do some research could help to avoid losing your money.
2. Study the video in detail
Study the video in detail. There are a few key details to look out for in deepfake videos. For example, is their mouth moving completely in sync with their words? Does their voice match the exact tone and dialect of the actual person? You can also check for features such as the shadow movement of the person in the video to ensure that it matches. If anything looks suspicious, it’s best to assume it’s not real.
3. Listen carefully to what they’re saying
Although these deepfake videos look realistic, a lot of the time the content will have been written by AI technology, so listen carefully and try to decipher whether this really sounds like something a human would say.
For more information on deepfakes and how to spot them, check out the video below.
