Majority of Indians believe AI has increased difficulty in detecting scams, with 40% suspecting their voice has been cloned

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way we live and work, but with its many benefits come concerns about potential misuse. In India, online scams have been on the rise, with scammers using AI technology to deceive unsuspecting victims.

A recent survey by McAfee revealed that 64 percent of respondents found it harder to spot online scams due to AI, while 40 percent believed their voices had been cloned to trick others into sharing personal information or money. One chilling case involved a woman who was convinced by scammers that her daughter had been kidnapped, using voice cloning to extort money from her.

Deepfake scams, another troubling trend, have also been on the rise in India. These scams involve the impersonation of both ordinary people and high-profile figures, spreading misinformation and defrauding individuals. The circulation of deepfake content on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram has reached unprecedented levels, with paid troll armies contributing to the dissemination of fraudulent information.

The McAfee survey highlighted that 80 percent of Indians are more concerned about deepfakes than they were a year ago, with 57 percent encountering fake content of celebrities and 31 percent losing money to scams. Additionally, 37 percent reported their likeness being used to create explicit content shared with others.

As deepfake scams continue to escalate, it is crucial to implement robust measures to combat misinformation and protect individuals from falling victim to AI-driven manipulation. The prevalence of these scams underscores the need for increased awareness and vigilance in the digital age.

Published By: Divyanshi Sharma
Published On: Apr 25, 2024