SINGAPORE / EuroWire.IO / – INTERPOL launched a public awareness campaign on Monday, October 19, highlighting the growing risk of crime that uses AI-generated or AI-altered media to scam members of the public. The campaign features three short videos, themselves created with artificial intelligence. They show how synthetic media, commonly known as deepfakes, can be used to deceive victims. The core message urges people to “Wait. Validate. Don’t take the bait.” The effort is aimed at ordinary citizens as well as law enforcement.
The videos depict scenarios including a criminal impersonating a boss, the cloning of a woman’s voice and a fake romantic identity built online. INTERPOL said generative AI applications and the large language models behind them are becoming more sophisticated every day. The tools no longer require significant technical skills or investment. They can create hyper-realistic avatars with human-like language skills. They can also reproduce a real person’s face or voice from a small amount of content found online.
Public understanding of how deepfakes are used in crime remains low, according to INTERPOL. Synthetic media crime was once seen mainly as a threat to public figures. It now increasingly targets private citizens through investment scams, impersonation, romance scams, sextortion, deepfake pornography and disinformation. A scam may appear as a video call from a supposed colleague requesting a bank transfer, or as a call from a relative in distress. Earlier reports have warned that criminal groups use AI for cybercrime and fraud.
Familiar warning signs are disappearing
Toshinobu Yasuhira, Director of the INTERPOL Innovation Centre, said “AI is erasing the tell-tale signs of a scam.” Yasuhira said spelling mistakes, branding inconsistencies and clumsy formatting are fast disappearing as red flags. Anyone can fall victim, regardless of age, region or sector, according to Yasuhira. INTERPOL’s work aims to give police and the public the knowledge and resources to recognize these threats before the damage is done. UNICEF has separately linked children’s use of AI to learning and safety risks.
INTERPOL said the scams ultimately aim to steal money or sensitive personal information. It listed several red flags for the public. These include unsolicited contact from a stranger or someone claiming to be a friend, relative or trusted organization. Victims are often pressured to act immediately through claims of a personal crisis or family emergency. Scammers also use fear, distress or demands for secrecy to stop targets from consulting others. Requests for payment by wire transfer, cryptocurrency or gift cards are another warning sign.
Safe words and two-factor authentication advised
INTERPOL also warned about online relationships that become intense very quickly, with declarations of love and emotional dependence. Targets may be encouraged to move conversations away from official dating platforms to avoid monitoring and reporting systems. The agency advised people to stay calm and skeptical, even when they believe they are speaking to someone they trust. People should hang up on unsolicited calls and contact the person through a known, verified channel. Discussing the situation with others is also recommended.
INTERPOL urged families and close friends to agree on a safe word or secret question to verify identities during suspicious calls. It also advised checking the online presence of new contacts and making sure profile photos have not been taken from elsewhere. Users should activate two-factor authentication on all online accounts. The campaign forms part of Project SynthWave PLUS, which is funded by the Government of Japan. The project supports law enforcement in Southeast Asia and beyond against synthetic media threats.