The international police organisation INTERPOL has launched a public awareness campaign about scams that use deepfakes, meaning fake video, audio or images created or altered with AI. Announced in Singapore on October 19, the campaign warns that the classic giveaways of a con are disappearing. “AI is erasing the tell-tale signs of a scam,” said Toshinobu Yasuhira, director of the INTERPOL Innovation Centre, in INTERPOL’s announcement.
Why the old advice no longer works
For years, people were told to look for spelling mistakes, odd logos or clumsy formatting. AI tools can now write fluent messages, copy a company’s branding and even clone a familiar voice or face. That makes a fake message from a “bank,” a “boss” or a “family member” much harder to spot by looks alone.
Yasuhira stressed that “anyone can fall victim to these scams, regardless of age, region, or sector.”
About the campaign
The campaign’s slogan is “Wait. Validate. Don’t take the bait.” It is built around three short videos which, fittingly, were themselves made with AI. It is the public-facing part of a wider INTERPOL effort called Project SynthWave PLUS, which is funded by Japan and focuses on supporting countries in Southeast Asia. INTERPOL itself connects police forces in 196 member countries.
The red flags to watch for
Because the message itself may look perfect, INTERPOL says to focus on how you are being approached. Warning signs include:
- contact you did not ask for, out of the blue
- pressure to act right now
- emotional manipulation, or being asked to keep it secret
- requests to pay by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards
- a fast-moving online romance that the other person wants to move off the dating app
INTERPOL also advises businesses to train staff on deepfakes and phone scams, and to require several verification steps before moving money or data, including face-to-face confirmation for large sums.
What it means for you
Assume that a voice, video or message can be faked, even if it looks and sounds exactly like someone you know. The safest habit is to slow down and check through a separate channel. If your “son” calls in a panic asking for money, hang up and call him back on the number you already have. If your “bank” texts, open the bank’s app yourself instead of tapping the link.
INTERPOL’s practical tips are simple:
- stay calm and sceptical, and talk it over with someone else before acting
- agree on a family safe word that a scammer would not know
- turn on two-factor authentication for your important accounts
If you think you have been targeted, report it to your local police straight away. If you have already sent money, contact your bank as quickly as possible, as fast action can sometimes stop or recover a payment.