According to reports, the Hong Kong police have detained six individuals in relation to a series of deepfake schemes that have emerged in the past few months. These scams have gained attention in recent times.
The employee had doubts about an email that asked for a confidential transaction, but the fraudsters appeared and spoke with such persuasiveness on the phone that he ended up sending the funds.
What are some ways to identify a deepfake video call?
To ensure the identity of the person you are communicating with, rely on visual signals. Since deepfakes are unable to mimic intricate movements in real-time, it is advisable to request your video chat partner to write a specific word or phrase on a sheet of paper and display it on screen. Alternatively, you may prompt them to hold a nearby book or execute a distinctive action, such as touching their ear or waving a hand, as these actions are challenging for deepfakes to imitate successfully in real-time.
Pay attention to the mouth movements. Be on the lookout for inconsistencies in lip synchronization or unusual facial expressions that go beyond a normal connectivity issue.
Utilize multi-factor authentication to enhance security. When dealing with important meetings, it may be beneficial to include a secondary form of verification such as email, SMS, or an authenticator app to verify the identity of the participants.
For important meetings where confidential information or financial transactions are involved, it is recommended to use secure communication channels. This can be achieved by verifying the identities of all meeting participants through encrypted messaging applications like Signal. Additionally, any decisions made during the meeting, particularly financial transactions, should be confirmed through these secure channels.
To ensure the safety of your video conferences, it is important to regularly update your software. By keeping your video conferencing software up to date, you may have access to security measures that can detect deepfakes. However, it is unclear if Zoom Video Communications will offer this technology to its users, as they did not respond to inquiries about their plans for such detection capabilities.
It is advisable to steer clear of unfamiliar video conferencing platforms. When it comes to important meetings, it is best to utilize established platforms such as Zoom or Google Meet, which offer robust security measures.
Be cautious of any unusual or questionable actions or conduct. Certain methods have proven to be effective throughout history. Be cautious of sudden demands for funds, impromptu meetings that require significant choices, or alterations in tone, language, or manner of speech. Fraudsters frequently resort to coercion, so be mindful of any efforts to hasten a decision.
The Secretary of Financial Services has stated that the Reserve Bank of India is anticipated to provide more clarity on the matter concerning Paytm Payments Bank. This development was reported by Livemint
