Scammers used AI-generated deepfake videos featuring prominent Malaysian politicians and businesspeople to promote fraudulent investment schemes, resulting in RM2.11 billion in losses from 13,956 reported cases in one year.
Scammers created AI-generated deepfake videos featuring prominent Malaysian figures including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, tycoon Tan Sri Robert Kuok, former chief justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, and Capital A CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes to promote fake investment schemes. These hyper-realistic videos were distributed through Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram over a four to five month period. According to MCA's Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong, RM2.11 billion was lost to these scams in one year across 13,956 reported cases, with 85% of victims convinced to invest after watching the fake promotional videos. The videos were so convincing that only subtle details like a Tamil accent in one video featuring the Prime Minister revealed their artificial nature. When authorities removed flagged content, scammers quickly generated new videos to continue their operations. To demonstrate the scam process, MCA members conducted a sting operation, investing RM1,100 and being promised returns of RM5,000, before being asked for additional processing fees of US$250, confirming the fraudulent nature.
Domain classification, causal taxonomy, severity scores, and national security assessments were LLM-classified and may contain errors.
Using AI systems to gain a personal advantage over others such as through cheating, fraud, scams, blackmail or targeted manipulation of beliefs or behavior. Examples include AI-facilitated plagiarism for research or education, impersonating a trusted or fake individual for illegitimate financial benefit, or creating humiliating or sexual imagery.
Human
Due to a decision or action made by humans
Intentional
Due to an expected outcome from pursuing a goal
Post-deployment
Occurring after the AI model has been trained and deployed