‘Don’t fall for the illusion’: NSW Police issue dire warning amid new trend of deepfake AI scams sweeping the countryPolice in one state have issued a major warning amid an emerging trend of disturbing scams.Blake Antrobus@bt_ant2 min readMay 8, 2024 - 1:33PMNCA NewsWirePolice have issued an alert over an emerging trend of disturbing scams, where scammers use AI to create fake videos or messages resembling loved ones or celebrities, duping them into fake investments or stealing their money or personal information.NSW Police warned people not to “fall for the illusion” of the rising trend deepfake scams, which are being used to exploit vulnerable Aussies, in a public alert on their Facebook page on Wednesday.“Beware of deepfake scams. Don’t fall for the illusion. Protect yourself and your loved ones from digital deception,” police said.Deepfake scams involve scammers using deepfake technology or AI to manipulate existing videos and images, and even alter voice clips or create their own convincing audio.Scammers will typically generate footage or images of celebrities or politicians – or in some cases of a person’s loved ones – and use the fake assets to manipulate people into fraudulent investments.At other times, they steal people’s personal information or banking details.NSW Police has issued a warning over the emerging use of deepfake scams across the state, which target vulnerable Aussies using fake videos or images of well-known figures using AI to dupe people into investment scams or steal their data. Picture: SuppliedHunter Valley resident Gary Meachen spoke out on his experience with said scammers, losing his $400,000 nest egg to a sophisticated investment scheme scam plugged over Facebook.Speaking to A Current Affair, Mr Meachen said the ad gave the impression billionaire Elon Musk, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, former prime minister Julia Gillard and a host of media celebrities and presenters had backed the so-called scheme.But the footage of everyone in the ads all used deepfake technology.An example of a deepfake scam using an altered image of TV presenter David Koch. Picture: Supplied“You’d go and look at it three times a day just to see how much money you were making. We thought we’d make a million within two weeks,” Mr Meachen told the program, only to find he and his wife had lost money from their bank account after their investment.Mr Meachen said he has reported the scam to the authorities.Deepfake ads often use well-known celebrities to plug fraudulent investment or monetary scams, like this one featuring entrepreneur Dick Smith. Picture: SuppliedA deepfake video of Dominic Stevens on TV, saying he's leaving the ASX immediately. Picture: SuppliedIn their alert, NSW Police urged people to pay attention to inconsistencies in videos – including unnatural expressions, a person’s emphasis on words, distortion around the hands, mismatched lip-synching and “unusual” blinking.“Protect yourself and your loved ones from digital deception,” their alert stated.How to avoid deepfake scams:Pay attention to inconsistencies: unnatural expressions, a person’s emphasis on words, distortion around the hands, mismatched lip-synching, unusual blinkingCreate a family password or phrase so if you’re suspicious when speaking on the phone or FaceTiming, ask the caller for the passwordAsk a personal question only they would knowDon’t be pressured into making quick decisionsResearch the legitimacy of any investment firmsReport a scam to scamwatch.gov.auMore related storiesPolitics‘Infected’: MP’s big call on human rights bodyAn MP has delivered a sharp attack on Australia’s $43m human rights body, suggesting it should be folded up for failing to defend Jewish Aussies.Read moreSecurity130 scam websites a week taken downScammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated but the corporate watchdog is fighting back, taking down more than 130 scam websites a day.Read moreHackingIVF patient data stolen by ransomware groupA ransomware group has claimed responsibility for stealing highly confidential patient information from an Australian fertility clinic.Read more