Sergey Zolotukhin, a cybersecurity expert at F6, emphasized that a crucial defense against deepfakes is maintaining a skeptical attitude toward any suspicious text or voice messages received via instant messengers. In a recent interview, he elaborated on practical steps to avoid becoming a victim of fraudsters leveraging sophisticated deepfake technologies.
«If you receive an unusual message, it is imperative to contact the sender directly by phone or in person. Under no circumstances should you use the potentially compromised messenger for this verification. Furthermore, if an account has been hijacked, it`s essential to notify the service administration as quickly as possible,» Zolotukhin advised.
The expert strongly recommends that all users activate two-factor authentication for their messenger accounts to add an extra layer of security. He also urged individuals to exercise extreme caution when encountering unfamiliar links and to refrain from clicking on them. In the unfortunate event that scammers have already managed to extract money, victims should contact the police immediately.
Recognizing Common Deepfake Scam Schemes
Zolotukhin identified five primary deepfake-driven scam schemes that individuals should be aware of:
- FakeBoss: Fraudsters imitate the voices and videos of supervisors or superiors to pressure employees into making unauthorized transactions or divulging sensitive information.
- FakeDate: This scheme involves deepfakes used for deception in romantic relationships, often to build trust before requesting money or personal data.
- FakeNews: Deepfakes are employed to create fabricated news stories or messages, often in the name of government officials or public figures, to spread disinformation or manipulate public opinion.
- Fraudulent Investment Projects: Criminals leverage deepfake technology to lure individuals into fake cryptocurrency investment schemes or other fraudulent ventures, promising unrealistic returns.
- False Loan Requests: Scammers create fake audio or video messages, impersonating contacts, to request urgent loans or financial assistance from unsuspecting victims.
A new and alarming tactic recently emerged: scammers are now posing as hackers who claim to have been «commissioned» to target a victim. They then offer to «cancel» this purported order for a fee. To lend credibility to their threats, these fraudsters often provide the victim`s personal data, including full name, phone number, address, and in some cases, even passport details.
