KUALA LUMPUR: Three cases of scammers using deepfake technology to mimic the voices of victims' friends have been reported so far this year.
Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the cases were reported in Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
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"In Terengganu, a 63-year-old man lost RM49,800 after receiving a call supposedly from a friend who claimed he was having money trouble and asked for a loan.
"The victim then transferred money to an account given by the caller," he told a press conference at CCID headquarters here on Wednesday (Aug 28).
Comm Ramli said a 26-year-old interior designer in Kuala Lumpur lost about RM3,000 while a 50-year-old Penang housewife lost RM4,800, to similar scams.
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"We are investigating under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating," he said.
A total of 454 cases of scammers posing as victims' friends were recorded this year, involving losses of RM2.72mil, he said.
"Three cases involved the use of deepfakes.
"We are not ruling out the possibility that the use of deepfake technology in phone scams will become more prevalent," he said.
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Comm Ramli advised the public to stay vigilant, and not to simply believe anything they saw or heard on their devices.
"Verify with the friend by calling the number in your contact list and check whether he or she was the one who called you.
"Don't transfer money to a bank account registered under other names than your friend's," he added.
