SINGAPORE / EuroWire.IO / – The global law enforcement body INTERPOL has introduced a new initiative aimed at educating the public on the dangers of scams involving AI-created or modified media. Announced on Monday, October 19, the campaign features three short videos, all generated with artificial intelligence. These clips demonstrate how deepfake technology can be exploited to target unsuspecting individuals. Their core message emphasizes: “Wait. Validate. Don’t take the bait.” With 196 member countries, INTERPOL highlighted that awareness about this threat remains limited.
One of the videos depicts a criminal impersonating a boss, while others show a synthetic female voice and a fabricated romantic partner. INTERPOL noted that generative AI applications and large language models powering them are advancing rapidly. Creating convincing fake media no longer requires significant technical expertise or high costs. These tools can produce hyper-realistic avatars capable of speaking like humans and can mimic faces or voices using only minimal material sourced from the internet.
Initially, deepfake crimes were mainly seen as a threat to prominent public figures. However, they are now increasingly targeting private citizens through investment scams, impersonation, romance fraud, sextortion, deepfake pornography, and disinformation campaigns. In practice, victims might receive a video call from a supposed colleague requesting a bank transfer or be contacted by a family member seemingly in distress. Such schemes are designed to steal money or sensitive personal information. Prior reports have indicated that criminal groups use AI for cybercrime and fraud.
Emerging Signs of AI-Driven Scams Mask Traditional Red Flags
Toshinobu Yasuhira, director of the INTERPOL Innovation Centre, explained that AI is erasing many familiar indicators of scams. Mistakes such as spelling errors, inconsistent branding, and awkward formatting are quickly becoming obsolete as warning signs, Yasuhira added. According to him, any individual regardless of age, location, or sector can be targeted. INTERPOL’s efforts aim to equip law enforcement and the public with knowledge and tools to identify these threats early. In December 2024, the United Nations adopted a landmark cybercrime treaty to bolster international cooperation against such offenses.
INTERPOL urged vigilance against unsolicited contact from unfamiliar sources or individuals claiming to be friends, family, or trusted organizations. These approaches often quickly shift toward requesting personal details, bank information, or money. A sense of urgency, particularly tied to a personal crisis or family emergency, is another common warning sign. Scammers often use fear, distress, or secrecy to prevent targets from consulting others. Demands for payments through wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards should also be viewed suspiciously, as these methods are difficult to trace.
Confirm Identities and Establish a Secure Word
Rapidly escalating online relationships marked by declarations of love and emotional reliance can also indicate scams. Victims may be pressured to leave official dating platforms, where monitoring and reporting systems are in place. INTERPOL recommends maintaining a calm, skeptical attitude and taking time to evaluate any requests, even if they come from seemingly familiar individuals. Discussing the situation with trusted friends or family members can provide helpful perspective. For unsolicited calls, ending the call and reaching out through verified channels is advised.
To enhance security, INTERPOL recommends that families and close friends agree on a secret word or question to confirm identities during suspicious interactions. It is also important to verify online profiles of new contacts and ensure that profile images have not been copied from other sources. Enabling two-factor authentication on all online accounts is another recommended practice. This campaign is part of Project SynthWave PLUS, funded by the Government of Japan, which supports law enforcement agencies across Southeast Asia and beyond in countering threats posed by synthetic media.