- FBI warns criminals are using GenAI deepfakes in kidnapping and extortion scams
- Attackers generate fake “proof of life” videos from social media images, demanding ransom payment.
- Citizens are advised to limit their online exposure, set family passwords and verify loved ones before paying
Hackers are using generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) to create convincing deepfake videos that are then used as proof of life in kidnapping and extortion scams.
This is according to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which recently released a new public service announcement (PSA), warning citizens not to get caught in the trap.
Here’s how the scam works: Criminals will choose a target and scour social media and other sources for images and videos. If they find enough information, they will feed it into an AI tool to create videos and images depicting their targets’ kidnapped relatives. Then, they will reach out to the victims and demand immediate payment of a ransom in order to “free” their hostage.
How to defend
The scam may not be that widespread, but it has been around for a while. The Guardian talked about it two years ago. Yet with AI improving by the minute, it’s safe to assume that these scams are becoming more common, prompting a response from the FBI.
The FBI also said that these photos and videos are not perfect. With a little pixel searching, they can be identified as fake. However, scammers know this too, which is why the messages they send are usually timed and expire before any meaningful analysis can be performed:
“Examples of these inaccuracies include missing tattoos or scars and inaccurate body proportions,” the PSA reads. “Criminal actors sometimes deliberately send these photos using timed messaging features to limit the time victims have to analyze the images.”
To defend against these attacks, the FBI first suggests that citizens be more attentive to their privacy: when posting photos online or when providing personal information to strangers while traveling. Then, they suggest that they establish a code word that only they know and, above all, try to contact their loved ones before making any payment.
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