Deepfake scams

The advancement in digital technology is really astonishing, revolutionizing how we collect data and facilitating how we can harness more information that we can use immediately and effectively.

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) will make it even harder in the future to detect deepfake videos. In the just concluded two-day conference of the IT & Business Process Association of the Philippines (IT-BPAP), industry players said the use of AI is expected to further revolutionize the IT and business process management sector.

There was even an interesting presentation on advances in the development and creation of digital avatars using AI, something that potentially in the future could be used by bad players and would potentially be much harder to detect than the deepfake videos that are already circulating and being used by unscrupulous people.

Digital technology has developed to such an extent that ordinary people can more easily create digital content that they can upload to social media platforms. While most of the content created are meant to entertain and inform, unfortunately, there are also some bad players who are now exploiting social media platforms to spread disinformation.

We are now all aware, but still susceptible to text scams, especially if the perpetrators cleverly frame their phishing scams for us to reply and innocently reveal important information that can allow the scammers to access our digital wallets or digital bank accounts or credit cards.

We have also all encountered some form of deepfake videos that we really thought depicted real persons and events, and probably forwarded to our social media friends without verifying the veracity of the content.

Leveraging on the knowledge that most social media users really do not verify what they forward and that most do not even know where to report what they suspect may be deepfakes, sophisticated bad players are now able to prey on some social media users to entice them to invest in some get-rich quick scheme or some investment vehicle, using fake endorsements from well-known people or celebrities.

I have come across some of those investment pitches using well-known and respected businessmen, the taipans themselves.

I have seen deepfake endorsement videos of Ayala Corp.’s Jaime Augusto Zobel, Lance Gokongwei and San Miguel Corp.’s Ramon Ang. I immediately forwarded and reported the deepfake videos to their various public relations and communications team who have reached out to the digital platforms to remove the deepfake videos.

However, the deepfake videos are still detectable to some extent because of the stilted way that local news clips are spliced together to present the endorsement or solicitation to invest.

I thought that with the prompt action taken by the big corporations, that was the end of that, but apparently, the deepfake videos continue to proliferate via social media and  e-mail platforms.

I was surprised that San Miguel once again has to warn the public about a new wave of scams exploiting Ang.

According to SMC’s media group, the new wave of scams include deepfake videos that are being circulated on social media platforms, such as TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

Similar to what I had seen and forwarded several months back, the deepfake video, according to SMC, digitally altered Ang’s likeness and voice to trick viewers into clicking links and transferring money through electronic cash channels.

SMC has already brought the matter to the attention of the  different platforms and authorities, but are still awaiting action.

However, Mr. Ang has had to issue a statement stressing that he does not use social media to solicit investment.

My God, a taipan of his stature does not have to solicit investments that way, and yet there are a lot of people who are susceptible to such tactics.

In his press statement, Mr. Ang warned, “I do not promote investments through social media or random e-mails and I have never made any video inviting people to invest or promising money-back guarantees. These scams put people at risk, and we don’t want anyone to lose their hard-earned money.”

Mr. Ang has only one verified account, his official Facebook page, used only for public posts and updates. He has no personal accounts on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok or other platforms.

SMC, the company itself, has also been the subject of e-mail scams. One new scheme invites recipients to join a supposed vending procurement program.

SMC stresses that it has no such program, and warned against e-mails sent from domains such as [email protected], vendordepartment, or sanmiguelcooperation.com.

SMC clarified that it conducts business only with accredited suppliers through its Corporate Procurement Group ([email protected]), which does not ask or require payments for accreditation or participation in biddings.

For security purposes, the e-mail address only receives inquiries. Feedback requests must include a phone number.

Job-seekers, SMC said, are also being victimized through a recruitment scam using  fake web pages and e-mail addresses  to trick people into thinking they are applying to an SMC subsidiary.

The victims are  then asked for payment for medical check-ups or for fake requirements.

SMC emphasized that they do not ask or require any form of payment from job applicants. Interested applicants are not  asked to pay or  shoulder any fees and costs.

The Ang-led company is  urging the public to remain vigilant and block any suspicious accounts. They are also advised to report scams to the proper authorities.

But like I have said in previous columns, trying to report or complain any anomaly to government agencies is an exercise in futility. That’s why scams continue to proliferate and funnel billions of pesos into the pockets of bad people.