Recently, deepfake scams involving celebrities such as Tom Hanks, YouTuber Mr. Beast, and CBS news anchor Gayle King have been circulating on social media platforms. These deepfakes use AI-generated versions of the celebrities to promote fraudulent products or schemes, such as dental plans, weight-loss products, and iPhone giveaways. The scammers typically take existing videos of the celebrities and use software to change lip movements to match AI-generated voice clones trained on vocal samples from publicly available work.
Efforts to Stop or Warn Social Media Users
Celebrities like Tom Hanks, Mr. Beast, and Gayle King have taken to social media to warn their followers about the deepfake scams. They have shared the fake videos and expressed concerns about the rise of AI deepfakes and their potential impact on social media platforms.
To detect and prevent deepfake scams, businesses and individuals can take several steps, such as training employees to spot signs of these attacks, implementing sophisticated authentication and security tools, and staying informed about the latest developments in deepfake technology. Deepfake detectors can search for telltale biometric signs within a video, such as a person’s eye and mouth movements, which may appear strange in deepfakes. The FBI has also issued warnings about deepfake scams, including those involving explicit content and sextortion schemes. They recommend being cautious when accepting friend requests from strangers and understanding that complying with a scammer does not ensure the deepfakes will not be shared.
Despite these efforts, deepfake scams continue to pose a significant challenge, as AI technology becomes more advanced and accessible. Social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube are struggling to handle the rise of AI deepfakes, and in some cases, fraudulent ads have slipped past their moderation technology. As deepfakes become more realistic and convincing, it is crucial for individuals and businesses to remain vigilant and take appropriate measures to protect themselves from potential scams.