A recent survey conducted by MTS Link, cited by RIA Novosti, reveals a significant knowledge gap regarding deepfakes among the Russian population. Almost half of respondents (48 percent) were unaware of what deepfakes are, yet a concerning 30 percent of employees in large companies have already encountered fraudulent attacks leveraging this technology.
The study involved one thousand residents from major Russian cities. It found that mid-sized businesses were most susceptible to deepfake attacks, while micro-businesses reported no such incidents. The primary platforms exploited for these scams were the messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp. (Note: WhatsApp is owned by Meta, a corporation recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation).
Pavel Potekhin, Executive Director of MTS Link, emphasized the severe financial risks, stating, «A successful attack involving the impersonation of a company executive could cost millions of rubles.» To mitigate these threats, experts advise implementing corporate platforms equipped with integrated anti-fraud solutions.
Deepfakes are sophisticated AI-generated videos, audio, and images that are nearly indistinguishable from authentic content. While most respondents (64 percent) had encountered deepfakes in entertainment and 27 percent in advertising, a more concerning trend emerged: 19 percent reported instances where fraudsters mimicked the voices of friends and relatives, and 18 percent faced similar scams involving the voices of executives and colleagues.
Previously, fraudsters were also reported to be deceiving participants in the special military operation, pilfering funds by falsely offering «support.»
