SINGAPORE / EuroWire.IO / – The global law enforcement agency INTERPOL has launched an awareness campaign aimed at warning individuals about scams involving AI-generated or AI-manipulated media. The initiative, announced on Monday, October 19, features three brief videos, all produced through artificial intelligence. These clips demonstrate how synthetic media, commonly referred to as deepfakes, can be exploited to deceive unsuspecting victims. The core message emphasizes to the public to “Wait. Validate. Don’t take the bait.” INTERPOL, with 196 member countries, noted that public understanding of this threat remains limited.
One video portrays a criminal impersonating a boss, while others depict a cloned female voice and a fabricated romantic partner. INTERPOL highlighted that generative AI applications and the large language models driving them are becoming increasingly advanced daily. Creating convincing fake content no longer requires significant technical expertise or substantial financial investment. These tools are capable of constructing hyper-realistic avatars that articulate like real humans, and can replicate a person’s face or voice using minimal internet-sourced material.
Initially, deepfake-related crimes were mainly seen as threats targeted at public figures. Today, however, they are increasingly affecting private citizens through schemes such as investment fraud, impersonation, romance scams, sextortion, deepfake pornography, and disinformation. In practice, victims may receive a video call from an individual claiming to be a colleague requesting a bank transfer. Others might be contacted by a family member who appears to be in trouble. The goal of each tactic is to steal money or confidential personal information. Earlier reports confirm that criminal groups use AI to carry out cybercrime and fraud activities.
Warning signs diminish as AI eliminates traditional scam indicators
Toshinobu Yasuhira, head of the INTERPOL Innovation Centre, stated that AI is erasing familiar signals of fraud. Errors such as misspellings, inconsistent branding, and awkward formatting are rapidly becoming outdated as warning signs, Yasuhira explained. According to him, anyone, regardless of age, region, or sector, can be targeted. INTERPOL’s efforts aim to equip law enforcement and the public with the knowledge and tools necessary to detect these emerging threats early. In December 2024, the United Nations adopted a landmark cybercrime treaty to enhance international cooperation against such offenses.
The organization urged vigilance against unsolicited contact from unfamiliar individuals or those claiming to be friends, relatives, or trusted entities. These approaches often escalate quickly to requests for personal details, banking information, or money. A common warning sign is pressure to act immediately, often linked to a personal crisis or family emergency. Scammers frequently use fear, distress, or secrecy to prevent targets from consulting others. Demands for payment via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards should also raise suspicion, as these methods are difficult to trace.
Confirm identities and establish a secure code
Rapidly developing online relationships that involve declarations of love and emotional dependence might also be indicative of a scam. Victims could be encouraged to leave official dating platforms, which have monitoring and reporting mechanisms. INTERPOL recommends remaining calm and skeptical, taking time to evaluate any requests, even from seemingly familiar contacts. Discussing the situation with others can be helpful. For unsolicited calls, it is advised to hang up and contact the person via a verified and known communication channel.
The organization further suggests that families and close friends agree on a safe word or a secret question to verify identities during suspicious phone calls. Additionally, users should verify the online presence of new contacts and ensure profile photos are not copied from elsewhere. Enabling two-factor authentication for all online accounts is also recommended. 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 combating threats posed by synthetic media.