Cybercriminals have found that using artificial intelligence allows them to enhance their scams, making their deceptions more realistic and harder to detect. Recently, fake videos have surfaced impersonating internationally renowned figures, such as Lionel Messi or the CEO of a major organization.  However, these scams also occur on a smaller scale, such as targeting a school principal in the United States. ESET, a leading proactive threat detection company, reviews some of the cases where deepfakes were the main tool used in scams that resulted in millions of dollars in losses or the compromise of sensitive information.

Deepfake is an artificial intelligence-based technique for synthesizing human images to create fake content from scratch, using existing videos or even just a still image. They are designed to replicate the appearance and voice of a real person.

“With the evolution of Artificial Intelligence, these videos and audio recordings seem increasingly real. Many exploit the image of public figures or well-known entities to say something false, as part of a scam that aims to obtain money or sensitive information,” says Camilo Gutiérrez Amaya, Head of the ESET Latin America Research Lab.

ESET compiled amazing, truly real, and recent cases

Lionel Messi: The Argentine football player is one of the most recognized personalities worldwide. In this case, cybercriminals exploited his popularity to carry out a deepfake scam, promoting an app that promised suspiciously high and irresistible earnings. The app in question was called “Wildcat Dive,” and in the fake video, Messi claimed it was one of his main sources of income and that it had helped many people earn money. Through advertisements on the social network Instagram, the cybercriminals distributed snippets of a fabricated interview, which was based on a real interview the footballer had given to a well-known Argentine streaming program.

Arup: In early 2024, the architectural firm that designed the Sydney Opera House and the Etihad Stadium, Arup, made headlines when a financial employee at the company’s Hong Kong office received a video call from (allegedly) the company’s CFO. The result of the meeting was 15 transfers totaling over $25 million. The bad news is that it was actually a deepfake, so the transfers had not been approved by anyone in the company.

Ferrari: In this case, cybercriminals attempted a deepfake voice scam, impersonating Benedetto Vigna, the CEO of the automotive company. In July 2024, using voice imitation, they tried to convince the company’s finance executives to make a large money transfer. One of the employees became suspicious and asked a question that the AI ​​used in the scam could not answer correctly. Not only did this attack fail, but it prompted Ferrari to reinforce its employee training to prevent similar scams in the future.

WPP: One of the world’s largest advertising companies was also the target of a scam attempt involving a deepfake. In mid-2024, cybercriminals used a fake WhatsApp account, a voice recording, and YouTube footage of a virtual meeting to impersonate the company’s CFO, Mark Read. The malicious actors organized a meeting via Microsoft Teams, under the pretext of creating a new company, and used this as a lure to obtain money and sensitive personal data from the company. According to WPP, this attack was unsuccessful thanks to the company’s vigilance and the training its employees received to detect these scams.

School in Baltimore: Not only high-profile companies are targeted by deepfakes. In this case, a school principal was heard making racist and antisemitic comments. The incident went viral (over 2 million views) and resulted in death threats against the educator. After an investigation, local police confirmed that the audio was a fake, manipulated with AI.

Elon Musk: A cryptocurrency investment scam used Elon Musk’s image to spread ads on X and YouTube, promoting supposed investment opportunities that promised high returns on Bitcoin. The ads included a link to a fraudulent website where unsuspecting users were asked to make initial deposits to participate in the alleged investment. According to the US Federal Trade Commission, the scam, which included deepfakes, resulted in losses of over $80 million for more than 7,000 victims who believed in the supposed investment.

President Zelensky: Politics was also affected by deepfake scams. In March 2022, during the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, a fake video circulated showing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urging his troops to surrender. The president responded almost immediately with a genuine video posted on his official channels.

While deepfake scams are becoming increasingly realistic and difficult to detect, ESET shares some best practices to reduce the risk of falling victim to these types of scams

• Be wary of eye-catching advertisements that offer an opportunity for easy and unrealistic gains. Also be suspicious of those that feature well-known celebrities.
• Pay attention to the video quality: if there are visual glitches, poor synchronization, or low resolution, it is likely a deepfake.
• Use security software on all devices to help block fake websites and emails containing malicious content.
• For businesses, it is important to not authorize payments solely based on a phone call or video call. Consider using keywords or internal codes as an additional verification method.
• Continuous training is essential: being trained to recognize the warning signs of deepfakes and scams is another key practice.
• Take advantage of the tools currently available to detect deepfakes and combat misinformation.

ESET invites you to learn more about cybersecurity by visiting: https://www.welivesecurity.com/es/.

For additional useful preventative information, visit ESET’s website in Venezuela: https://www.eset.com/ve/, and follow them on social media @eset_ve. Also on Instagram (@esetla) and Facebook (ESET).

Information and images courtesy of ESET and Comstat Rowland

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Ferrari has asked its customers to report counterfeit products not only in the automotive market but also in the clothing and accessories segment.

The brand, through a complementary badge, “enlists its followers, users and fans to hunt for counterfeit products,” especially taking into account that its cars are among the most valuable in the world.

Through a communication with CNN, Ferrari gave details of the problems caused by counterfeiting, insisting that they will work to combat this way of devaluing the brand.

The company launched a program that enlists the help of owners and fans to encourage them to spot counterfeits of all kinds: from cars to golf carts to appliances.

“We have received more than a thousand notifications since we started the project and have thus been able to take action against a series of companies that sell counterfeit products,” reported a Ferrari spokesperson.

The complainants could receive a gift, not yet detailed, which they have referred to as an indefinite “Ferrari complementary device.”

M.Pino

Source: mercadonegro

(Reference image source: Carlo D’Agnolo in Unsplash)

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Iconic luxury car manufacturer Ferrari announced its decision to accept cryptocurrency payments in the United States, responding to growing demand from its customers. The company’s commercial and marketing director, Enrico Galliera, confirmed this measure in a Reuters report dated October 14.

This decision is based on growing market demand and requests from Ferrari dealers, supported by numerous customers, including young investors with cryptocurrency experience who have bet on digital currencies.

Although Galliera did not provide details on the number of cars they hope to sell through cryptocurrency payments, he noted that Ferrari’s order book is already fully booked until 2025. With this measure, Ferrari seeks to explore a growing market and reach potential buyers beyond their traditional clientele. The introduction of cryptocurrency payments in Europe is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, with plans to expand to other crypto-friendly regions.

For its initial foray into the United States, Ferrari has partnered with BitPay, one of the leading cryptocurrency payment processors. This collaboration allows transactions in Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH) and USD Coin (USDC). Importantly, there will be no additional charges when using cryptocurrencies, as BitPay will perform quick conversions to conventional fiat currency for Ferrari dealers, protecting them from cryptocurrency price fluctuations.

In addition, BitPay will be responsible for verifying the legitimacy of digital currencies to ensure that they do not come from illicit activities, money laundering or tax evasion.

Ferrari’s adoption of cryptocurrencies follows that of other large companies, although many have been cautious due to price volatility and the complexity of associated transactions. Notably, electric vehicle maker Tesla initially accepted payments in Bitcoin in 2021, but CEO Elon Musk discontinued this option due to environmental concerns.

K. Tovar

Source: Cointelegraph

(Reference image source: Brandon Atchison, Unsplash)

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La entrada Ferrari will accept cryptocurrency payments in the US apareció primero en Bitfinance.