Kerala man duped of Rs 40,000 after scammers use AI to ‘create’ friend on WhatsApp video call

AI deepfake WhatsApp fraud case in Kerala

As per reports, a man named Radhakrishnan, who lives in Kozhikode, Kerala, recently experienced a scam involving AI deepfake technology. He received a WhatsApp video call from a number he didn’t recognise, and the person on the call looked like someone he used to work with in Andhra Pradesh. The caller mentioned the names of their mutual friends, making Radhakrishnan believe it was a genuine call.

During the conversation, the caller requested Rs 40,000 as immediate assistance for a relative’s hospital expenses. Trusting his friend, Radhakrishnan agreed to help and sent the money online. However, a while later, the caller asked for an additional Rs 35,000. Radhakrishnan became suspicious and decided to reach out to his former colleague in order to confirm the situation. It was then that he realised he had been deceived and the call was fake. He promptly reported the fraudulent incident to the police.

Here’s what happened later

Upon receiving the complaint, the police initiated an investigation and successfully traced the money transaction to a private bank located in Maharashtra. The bank took action and froze the account involved.

The Kerala Police Cyber Cell revealed that this was the first case of its kind in Kerala, where scammers utilised AI technology to produce fake videos. These criminals create deceptive videos by using pictures sourced from social media platforms. They can also gather information such as the names of mutual friends from social media profiles.

What is AI deepfake WhatsApp fraud?

AI-based deepfake calls are a form of scam where AI is used to produce fake videos or audio recordings. Scammers employ this technique to imitate someone familiar, such as a trusted friend or family member, with the intention of deceiving the victim into revealing personal information or giving away money.

This case highlights the concerning trend of scammers exploiting advanced AI technology to carry out fraudulent activities and exploit unsuspecting individuals.