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Journalism of Courage
We are living in a world where ‘seeing is no longer believing’, and the reason for this is a new threat that has emerged: online money scams fueled by fake (deepfake, manipulated, edited) videos. These videos usually feature certain investment schemes promising high returns or fake celebrity endorsements.
The first video shows Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani endorsing the “investment project” of one Sona Aggarwal. Another video shows Isha Foundation founder Sadhguru and actor Aishwarya Rai praising one Suraj Sharma and his “investment project”.
Upon investigation, both videos were found to be fake and manipulated. Public relations officer of Reliance Industries Franko Williams stated that the voice of Mukesh Ambani was manipulated and that he did not endorse any individual or an investment scheme. Even the Facebook page of Isha Foundation clarified that these videos were made by scamsters.
With an increase in the use of artificial intelligence and deepfake technology to create manipulated videos, here are a few tips to follow to identify such videos.
AI-generated voices usually sound similar and electronic. If the video includes ‘celebrities’, compare the voices with their original videos available on social media and video platforms.
Look closely at the subjects in the video. Manipulated videos often exhibit unnatural facial movements with lip-sync issues. Pay attention to the inconsistencies in facial movements.
Always examine the source of these videos. The videos are usually sponsored and appear as advertisements. Do not trust the videos shared on social media by unknown individuals or shared on unfamiliar websites. Always research about the person or the entity being endorsed in such videos.
Always ask yourself — Is the content too good to be true? Schemes promising huge gains by investing a minimum amount are generally fake. These tall claims are not to be trusted.
Once you come across the video and think about investing in the scheme, do a simple Google search about the person or the scheme endorsed in the video. Sometimes you might find more details about the scam or a copy of a complaint registered against these entities.
If something about the video doesn’t feel right or raises suspicion, trust your instincts. It is always better to be cautious.
Reporting the suspicious content can help prevent others from falling victim to the scam.
