INTERPOL Warns of Deepfakes and ‘Pig-Butchering’ in Financial Fraud Report

INTERPOL has published its latest Global Financial Fraud Assessment, warning of the increasing prevalence and diversification of financial fraud.

The assessment reveals that investment fraud, advance-payment fraud, romance fraud, and business email compromise (BEC) are the most prevalent types of fraud worldwide. It also underscores the role of information and communication technologies in facilitating transnational fraud operations.

Deepfakes and Stolen Identities

The report indicates that emerging technologies like AI and deepfakes are used to deceive victims and conceal fraudsters’ identities. The use of AI-generated synthetic content for online fraud is an emerging trend, with lower entry barriers due to new, user-friendly technologies. Crime-as-a-service (CaaS) models are enabling less technologically proficient criminals to conduct sophisticated fraud operations.

Identity fraud, involving the unauthorized acquisition and use of personal information, is a significant threat. Fraudsters obtain personal data – including, in some cases, biometrics – through various means, including social engineering and system intrusions. This personal information is often sold on criminal markets, further facilitating other types of fraud, such as romance fraud.

Crypto and ‘Pig-Butchering’

Cryptocurrencies play a significant role in various fraud schemes, particularly investment and romance fraud, with fraudsters using cryptocurrencies and services offered by Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs). Another notable trend is the escalation of hybrid fraud methods, such as the “pig-butchering” scheme, which combines romance fraud and crypto-investment fraud. This method involves criminals manipulating cryptocurrency trades to display inflated profits, thereby encouraging victims to invest more money in fraudulent schemes. This trend is spreading beyond its original hub in Southeast Asia to other regions like Africa and Latin America.

The assessment reveals a concerning trend of human trafficking for the purpose of forced online fraud. Trafficked individuals are forced to work in scam centers, primarily in Southeast Asia, but also in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America. These centers exploit trafficked victims to perpetrate various types of online financial fraud, including advance-payment and telecom fraud.

The INTERPOL report underscores the pervasive and evolving nature of financial fraud, driven by technological advancements and the increasing role of crypt. INTERPOL says the global nature of these fraud operations necessitates coordinated efforts and data sharing among law enforcement agencies worldwide.

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May 22, 2024 – by Cass Kennedy