A rising wave of deepfake scams is misleading thousands of Indonesians across social media platforms, exploiting advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to impersonate prominent figures.
Key Highlights:
- Prabowo Subianto Deepfake Video:
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto appeared in a viral Instagram video, addressing citizens about financial aid. However, police later exposed the video as part of a fraudulent AI deepfake scam. - Scam Tactics:
Fraudsters lure victims by offering false financial aid. Victims are asked to transfer administrative fees ranging from 250,000 to 1 million rupiah in exchange for aid that never arrives. - Wide Circulation on TikTok and Instagram:
Dozens of deepfake videos featuring prominent figures, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, continue to circulate. Some TikTok accounts promoting these scams have amassed millions of views. - Police Action:
Authorities arrested two suspects, revealing that one scammer earned over 65 million rupiah ($4,000) from victims. However, many accounts are still operating despite these arrests.
Why Deepfake Scams Are Rising?
- Easy accessibility of AI tools.
- Rapid spread of misinformation on social media platforms.
- High-quality videos making it difficult to differentiate between real and fake content.
Experts’ Warning
Fact-checkers report detecting new deepfake scams weekly. The scams are becoming more convincing, posing a major challenge for both authorities and social media platforms.
How to Stay Safe?
- Always verify videos from official sources.
- Avoid transferring money based on social media messages.
- Report suspicious content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Conclusion:
The rise of AI deepfake scams highlights the urgent need for public awareness and stricter social media regulations. Users must remain vigilant to avoid falling victim to such sophisticated fraud schemes.
