DANGEROUS new deep fake apps are inserting people’s faces into porn content and then demanding ransom.
Criminal gangs in Mexico are developing deep fake apps to ‘psychologically attack’ victims, the Daily Star reported.
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How do these apps work?
The software purports itself to be an ‘instant lending app’, meant to provide users with quick loans.
After users sign up, the scammer-run apps steal their data and images.
They then use those images to create fraudulent porn content using deep fake technology.
Deep fakes are synthetic media in which a person’s face in an existing image or video is replaced with someone else’s.
What happens next?
After the scammers successfully create the deep fake content, they conduct a ransomware attack.
Ransomware describes when a hacker takes control of victims’ phones or data and then financially extorts them in exchange for access to their content.
How are these attacks affecting people?
One victim, María, spoke to the Daily Star and said that the scammers sent her ‘terrifying threats’ about raping and killing her family.
She expanded further: “It’s terrifying and depressing. They send you extremely aggressive messages that fill you with fear.”
“It never crosses your mind that [lending apps] will use all that information to psychologically attack you.”
An ongoing problem
Maria is one of the hundreds of victims who have fallen prey to criminal loan apps.
Currently, there are around 94 such apps in existence in Mexico, according to the Mexican government.
Meanwhile, around the globe, there are hundreds of deep fake websites that are using AI to create “nudes” and revenge porn.
As these websites continue to grow, there are mounting concerns for their victims.
And while many U.S. states have regulations against revenge porn, it’s hard to keep up with the new technology, which is not currently addressed by the law.
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