Citizens are urged to prepare for a significant increase in sophisticated online fraud, particularly involving AI-generated audio and video deepfakes, according to cybersecurity experts.
Alexandra Shmigirilova, GR Director at “Code of Security,” has announced that individuals should anticipate a substantial rise in deceptive audio and video content created by cybercriminals. She highlighted that malicious actors are increasingly leveraging advanced artificial intelligence to produce not only highly convincing voice imitations but also to mimic facial expressions and body language with disturbing accuracy.
Shmigirilova provided an example of a prevalent scam: fraudsters gain unauthorized access to a popular messenger channel, then upload a deepfake video. In this video, they impersonate the channel`s legitimate owner, directing unsuspecting users to click on malicious links.
According to her, a growing number of people already struggle to differentiate deepfakes from genuine content. The future will see these neural network-generated forgeries become a cornerstone of elaborate fraudulent schemes. Furthermore, cybercriminals are actively deploying AI to automate their attack strategies, manage interactions with potential victims, and fine-tune the communication style and tone for maximum impact.
“In the foreseeable future, we anticipate an even greater proliferation of counterfeit videos, audio messages, and phone calls – and it is crucial that we prepare ourselves for this reality,” Shmigirilova emphasized.
The “Code of Security” GR Director further explained that the effectiveness of these criminal operations often hinges on their agility in adopting new technologies. The quicker fraudsters can adapt their illicit schemes to emerging platforms, such as recently launched messaging applications, the higher their probability of a successful attack. This is primarily because users of novel services tend to have less experience with such threats and are consequently less inclined to suspect deception.
Shmigirilova underscored: “When a less conventional communication channel is employed, it becomes significantly easier for a fraudster to convince an individual of the authenticity of the information being presented. Therefore, to sustain their criminal enterprises, fraudsters are compelled to continuously evolve, refine their methodologies, update their deceptive narratives, and strive to keep their innovative tactics from public awareness for as long as possible.”
The expert clarified that despite the constant evolution of tactics, the fundamental principles underlying all fraudulent activities remain consistent: the deployment of phishing links and sophisticated social engineering techniques. These elements, she noted, serve as the bedrock of contemporary online fraud.
Concurrently, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation has issued a strong recommendation for citizens to either delete or securely store any files that might be of interest to cybercriminals. This advisory particularly stresses caution regarding photographs and scanned copies of personal identification documents, including but not limited to passports, SNILS (individual insurance account numbers), TINs (taxpayer identification numbers), driver`s licenses, and bank card details.
