Deepfake Scams Spread Across Indonesia, Swindling Thousands
JAKARTA: Wearing a traditional Indonesian black hat and shirt, President Prabowo Subianto speaks to the camera in an Instagram video, asking his people how he can help them after his election last year.
"Who hasn’t received aid from me? What are your needs right now?" Prabowo appears to ask viewers in the clip posted in November.
But while the Indonesian leader’s mouth moves and his eyes blink, the words he utters are part of a fraudulent deepfake scam uncovered by police last month that has swindled Indonesians across 20 provinces.
The Scam
Those ensnared by the message were asked to contact a WhatsApp number and hand over between 250,000 and one million rupiah ($15-$60) as an "administrative fee" to get aid that never materialised.
The Rise of Deepfakes
Since last year’s Indonesian election, experts have warned of a tidal wave of deepfakes — audio, images and video appearing to come from a known person but which are in fact the work of scammers using artificial intelligence tools. And victims say the hoaxes are so sophisticated they leave others vulnerable to being conned too.
Victims’ Stories
"People should be more careful. Don’t be easily fooled by the lure of prizes," said Aryani, 56, who handed over 200,000 rupiah to fraudsters after seeing a deepfake video of a prominent Indonesian businessman.
"I need money, but instead I’m asked to send money. They even made video calls with me, as if I were talking directly to them."
Wide Circulation
AFP’s fact-checkers found the account behind the Prabowo clip has posted dozens of similar videos appearing to show various high-profile figures, including Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Those videos also promote the bogus financial aid.
Police Action
Police arrested a suspect who pocketed 65 million rupiah ($4,000) from the scam, Himawan Bayu Aji, director of the Indonesian National Cyber Crime Unit told reporters in February. He said officers detained a second person involved in another scam that also used deepfake technology, without disclosing the amount raised.
TikTok’s Response
TikTok said it had removed one of the deepfake scam videos and the associated account, adding it would continue to remove any that violated the platform’s community guidelines, which prohibit misleading posts.
The Challenge
Aribowo Sasmito, a co-founder of Indonesian fact-checking organisation Mafindo, said his team were finding new deepfake scams every week because of their prolific spread online.
"We have started to see deepfake videos since last year as AI tools have become more accessible and affordable," he told AFP.
Conclusion
The spread of deepfakes across Indonesia has left thousands of people vulnerable to financial fraud. While the technology has the potential to revolutionise industries, its misuse has led to a wave of scams. It is crucial that fact-checking organisations like Mafindo continue to work tirelessly to debunk these scams and educate the public on how to identify them.
FAQs
Q: What is a deepfake?
A: A deepfake is a type of digital forgery that uses artificial intelligence to create a fake video, audio, or image of a person or event.
Q: How do deepfakes work?
A: Deepfakes use AI algorithms to manipulate a person’s facial features, voice, or movements to create a convincing fake video or audio recording.
Q: How can I avoid falling victim to deepfake scams?
A: Be cautious of suspicious messages or videos that ask for personal information or payments. Verify information through reputable sources and fact-checking organisations.