ADVERTISEMENTS and videos circulating on social media have been making claims that appear to come from Malaysia's central bank, looking polished and official enough to fool even careful readers.
The concern is that these posts are not what they seem, and that the technology behind them is becoming increasingly difficult to detect.
But are scammers really using artificial intelligence to impersonate Bank Negara online?
Verdict:
TRUE
Scammers are using artificial intelligence to impersonate Bank Negara through fake online advertisements and deepfake videos, and the central bank has issued warnings on both its official Facebook page and its official X account urging the public not to be misled.
In a post on its official X account on Sept 2, Bank Negara warned the public not to be fooled by deepfake advertisements online impersonating its Governor.
Deepfakes are AI-generated videos or images that convincingly replicate a real person's face, voice and mannerisms, making it extremely difficult to distinguish them from genuine footage.
In a separate post on its official Facebook page on Sept 25, Bank Negara warned that scammers are also using AI-generated advertisements designed to look as though they originate from the central bank.
By using the face of a central bank Governor or the branding of an official institution, scammers lend an air of legitimacy to investment schemes, fake loan offers or financial products that would otherwise raise immediate suspicion.
Both tactics are part of a broader pattern in which scammers exploit the credibility of established institutions by manufacturing convincing digital content to deceive the public into trusting fraudulent financial schemes or providing personal information.
The goal is typically to convince victims to transfer money, sign up for fraudulent schemes or hand over sensitive personal and banking details under the false impression that they are dealing with a trusted authority.
In some cases, the deepfake videos are used to promote get-rich-quick investment scams, with the AI-generated Governor appearing to endorse returns that no legitimate financial institution would ever guarantee.
Bank Negara has advised the public not to engage with any advertisement or video that appears suspicious, even if it looks official.
Members of the public who are in doubt about whether a communication is genuinely from Bank Negara are advised to verify directly through BNMLINK via bnm.gov.my before taking any action.
Sources:
1. https://www.facebook.com/
2. https://x.com/BNM_official/
