Scammers are upgrading their tactics. The latest scam uses enticing ads featuring AI art, making everyone think they too can be a content creator.
Deepfake warning: 6 signs the video you’re watching isn’t real
Have you seen the crazy deepfakes of “Barbie” star Margot Robbie? There’s one of her scrubbing a floor that looks so real, it’s shocking.
If that one was new to you, I’m sure you’re familiar with the infamous deepfake Tom Cruise that took the internet by storm. That one was so successful it spawned an entire deepfake company. Or maybe you remember when the Pope was walking around in a hip puffer jacket. Nah, wasn’t him.
From speeches of world leaders to clips of our favorite celebrities, deepfake videos are everywhere you turn. There are tried and true ways to pick them out. I’ll walk you through six tactics to help you become a deepfake super sleuth.
1. Face shape is a dead giveaway.
In a deepfake, measurements and proportions are typically off, even if it’s ever so slightly. The ears are the most challenging part of the face to fake, so start there.
Pro tip: Hit pause on the video and see if the structure of the face feels “off.” Your brain can perceive this pretty well since we look at real faces so often.
2. Go to the source.
Is that social media vid the real thing or a clone with a different message? Find the original footage.
Pro tip: Search related keywords on Google and social media platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. If you’re struggling with ways to search, you can even take screenshots of critical parts of the video and do a reverse image search.
3. Watch the mannerisms and expressions.
They’re as unique as their fingerprints. President Obama’s signature head lift and slight frown were present whenever he’d say “hi everybody” in his weekly addresses. If the star of your video in question seems like an impersonator, they very well could be.
Pro tip: Watch a few videos of the person in the potential deepfake and compare.
5 silly mistakes putting your online privacy and security at huge risk
There are so many online scams and tricks out there I can’t cover them all on my website and national radio show. I make it my duty to inform you of the tactics bad actors use to fool you.
A great podcast was the episode when I dove into the mind of a hacker. Tap or click to listen to an episode of my podcast, Kim Komando Today, with an IBM social engineer. She spills the secrets hackers use to scare and confuse people.
Get Temu off your phone now
TikTok isn’t the only Chinese app to worry about. A shopping app, downloaded by millions of Americans, uses sneaky tactics to monitor users. We spoke with Titan Crawford, founder of the Facebook group PDX Stolen Cars, which has helped recover over 3,000 stolen cars in Portland.
Scam alert: Don't click on these voicemail links in your email inbox
Scammers are continually evolving their tricks to trap as many people as possible. Whether it’s impersonating government agencies or faking a call from the bank, unfortunately, many people will fall victim.
With so many new scams and methods, it can be challenging to keep track of them. Often, criminals will use tactics that don’t seem like a scam. For example, a new method of attack attempts to get you to install software to listen to a WhatsApp message.
FBI warning: Government impersonators add scary tactics to get you to pay up
Scammers use a wide range of tactics to convince victims into handing over personal details or money. While these can range from helping with student loan repayments or vaccine cards, the most troubling of them all is the government impersonator.
Guard your heart against love scammers
How hotel hackers get your info
Are you on a legit hotel website? In just one minute, I cover the tactics criminals use to scam you.
Think you know all the government impersonator scams? Watch for this scary twist
Scammers are known for switching up tactics to catch potential victims off guard. Doing so makes it difficult for people to keep track of new schemes and what to be aware of. But sometimes, the criminals can’t resist falling back into old habits.