Criminals use deepfake AI video technology to scam people out of money

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - More than 3,200 fraudulent websites were detected in the first three months of 2023 in Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).

Truong Duc Luong, Chairman of the Vietnam Network Security JSC (VSEC), said raising awareness about online safety was still an effective measure with optimal cost. This should be done regularly, in various ways, divided into topics and objects so that the community could regularly receive messages and remember more.

Expert Ngo Minh Hieu from the MIC’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said to avoid scams people should be alert in every situation.

“When receiving a money transfer request, it is necessary to calm down and make a direct call for more than a minute with different questions to verify the information," he said.

“Deepfake has not been able to fake a real-time chat. The people’s emotions cannot be imitated.”

Vo Duong Tu Diem, regional director of Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar region of Kaspersky Global Cybersecurity Company, recommended regular backups, as well as strong and different passwords for personal accounts to avoid theft.

Businesses should ensure that employees are informed about how deepfake technology works and the potential risks of fraud.

Everyone should to build a “sceptic” attitude towards voice messages and video calls. He said this might not guarantee you are safe from scams, but it could help avoid many pitfalls.

Lieutenant Colonel Trieu Manh Tung, Deputy Director of the Department of Cyber Security and High-Tech Crime Prevention under the Ministry of Public Security, said the ministry had worked with the MIC and the State Bank of Vietnam on improving the quality of personal ID and bank accounts and look to the future when the owner must open bank accounts.

The websitedauhieuluadao.com, created by Google and NCSC, provides three golden rules to help prevent scams.

The first rule is "Slow down". Since scammers often create a sense of urgency to catch users off guard, people are advised to take the time to clarify further what needs to be transferred.

The second principle is "Spot check" to validate the information you receive.

If you receive an unsolicited call, look up the information, contact, and re-verify the source of the information.

The third rule is "Stop! Don't send". If you feel that transferring money to an unknown account is unreliable, stop, as it could be a scam./.