SINGAPORE / EuroWire.IO / – As synthetic media advances rapidly, the global police organization INTERPOL has initiated a campaign aimed at educating the public about AI-driven scams. Announced on Monday, October 19, this effort features three short videos created with artificial intelligence, illustrating how deepfake technology can be exploited against unsuspecting individuals. The campaign’s core message emphasizes caution with the phrase “Wait. Validate. Don’t take the bait.” INTERPOL, which comprises 196 member countries, highlighted that awareness of this emerging threat remains limited.
One of the videos depicts a scammer impersonating a boss, while others portray a synthetic female voice and a fabricated romantic partner. According to INTERPOL, the capabilities of generative AI applications and the large language models powering them are expanding daily. Creating highly realistic fake videos and voices no longer requires advanced technical expertise or significant expenditure. These tools can generate avatars that speak convincingly like humans and replicate faces or voices of real individuals using minimal online material.
Initially, deepfake-related crimes were primarily considered a threat to public figures. However, they are increasingly targeting private citizens through schemes such as investment fraud, impersonation, romance scams, sextortion, deepfake pornography, and disinformation. Victims might receive a video call from someone pretending to be a colleague requesting a bank transfer, or be contacted by a family member seemingly in distress. Each tactic aims to steal money or personal information. Past reports have demonstrated that criminal groups use AI for cybercrime and fraud activities.
Indicators diminish as AI erases traditional scam signals
Toshinobu Yasuhira, head of the INTERPOL Innovation Centre, explained that AI technology is erasing many classic signs of fraudulent activity. Mistakes in spelling, inconsistent branding, and awkward formatting, once common warning signs, are becoming less prevalent. According to Yasuhira, individuals of all ages, regions, and sectors can now be targeted. INTERPOL’s initiative aims to equip both law enforcement and the public with the knowledge and tools to detect these threats early. The United Nations adopted a landmark cybercrime treaty in December 2024 to bolster international cooperation against such crimes.
INTERPOL strongly advises the public to be cautious of unsolicited communications from strangers or individuals claiming to be friends, family, or trusted organizations. These contacts often escalate quickly, requesting personal information, banking details, or money. Urgency, especially tied to personal emergencies or family crises, is a common red flag. Scammers frequently use fear, distress, or secrecy to prevent targets from seeking advice. Demands for payments via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards should be viewed with suspicion, given the difficulty in tracing these funds.
Confirm identities and establish a safety protocol
Rapidly escalating online relationships, with intense declarations of love or emotional dependence, can also indicate a scam. Victims may be coerced into leaving official dating platforms, which have monitoring and reporting mechanisms. INTERPOL recommends staying calm and skeptical, taking the time to evaluate any requests, even from seemingly familiar contacts. Discussing such situations with others can help identify potential fraud. For unsolicited calls, the best approach is to hang up and contact the individual through a verified channel.
The organization suggests families and close friends agree on a secret word or question to verify identities during suspicious calls. It’s also important to scrutinize the online profiles of new contacts and ensure that profile photos are not copied from elsewhere. Enabling two-factor authentication on all online accounts adds an extra layer of security. 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.