Deepfake frauds on the rise in Canada, Ontario police warn

An uptick in deepfake fraud reports has prompted an alert.

There has been an increase in fraud using deepfake technology, according to a post on social media from the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, which was reposted by the OPP.

The deepfake videos are impersonating politicians, celebrities and news anchors, the centre said in a report.

Using artificial intelligence, deepfake videos manipulate audio and video to make it appear the trusted person is promoting fraudulent investment platforms, merchandise or applications.

“These deepfake videos can be convincing, making it difficult for viewers to identify the video as authentic or not,” the report stated.

They often circulate on social media platforms and, in some cases, are being used to commit fraud and spread false information.

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre offers the following tips to spot a fake:

• Assume that a video that includes a public figure promoting merchandise or investments is fake until you can prove otherwise by doing research.
• Exercise caution when viewing videos that seem too good to be true or show public figures saying something out of character. Deepfakes often rely on sensational or provocative content to manipulate viewers.
• Look for signs of video editing such as unnatural movements, mismatched audio, or inconsistent lighting and shadows.
• Cross-check information; look for corroborating evidence from trusted sources.
• Some fraudsters will use the names of legitimate companies to lend credibility to the fraud and convince victims to send money. Verify email addresses, URLs, phone numbers and their physical address.
• Verify if the investment companies are registered with your Provincial Securities Regulator or the National Registration Search Tool Are they registered?

Anyone who suspects they have been the victim of cybercrime or fraud should report it to their local police and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre’s online reporting system or by phone at 1-888-495-8501. If you are not a victim, you should still report the incident to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.

Below is an example of deepfake technology.

Lead photo: cottonbro studio