…By Judah Olanisebee for TDPel Media. Martin Lewis Warns of Frightening Deep Fake Video Scam: Urges Government Action to Protect Investors
Martin Lewis, the founder of Money Saving Expert, has raised the alarm about a “frightening” scam involving a deep fake video that appears to show him endorsing an investment scheme.
Deep fakes utilize advanced artificial intelligence technology to create convincing fake videos, in this case featuring Martin Lewis’s voice and appearance.
He took to Twitter to warn people about the scam, emphasizing the need for the government and regulators to take action against such dangerous fakes.
The emergence of deep fakes poses significant risks, as scammers can exploit them to deceive and defraud unsuspecting victims.
The Deep Fake Video Scam: The video showcases a convincing portrayal of Martin Lewis promoting what seems to be an exceptional investment opportunity for UK investors.
However, Martin Lewis asserts that the video is a scam orchestrated by criminals attempting to steal money.
He urges everyone to be cautious and shares the warning on Twitter, calling on the government and regulators to take measures to prevent big tech platforms from disseminating these dangerous fakes.
The potential financial losses and detrimental impact on people’s lives underscore the urgency of the situation.
Concerns and Responses: The emergence of deep fake scams has sparked concerns among the public and policymakers alike.
Anthony Browne MP acknowledges the alarming nature of this development and is engaging in urgent discussions with industry experts to find effective ways to counter it.
Veronica Pullen, who identifies as a lip reader, notes that while the mouth movements in the video are slightly off, it can still be highly convincing for those who watch it in isolation or are unaware of the natural patterns of mouth movement.
Twitter users express their worries about the future implications of deep fakes, emphasizing the potential erosion of trust in online content.
Aaron Short apprehensively contemplates the trajectory of deep fakes in the coming years, while Hayley laments the increasing difficulty of discerning truth from falsehood in the digital realm.
Martin Lewis’s Encounter with Another Scam: In addition to the deep fake video scam, Martin Lewis highlights another recent scam he encountered.
He received an automated call purportedly from HMRC (His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs), the UK tax authority.
Curious about the nature of the scam, he played along and pressed the requested button, only to engage in a brief exchange with the scammer before they abruptly hung up.
Martin reassures his Twitter followers that pressing a button during such calls does not result in premium rate charges.
Clarifying Premium Rate Call Concerns: Concerns arise among Martin’s followers regarding the possibility of being charged for premium rate calls if they press the specified button.
In response, Martin promises to investigate and reaches out to Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator.
He clarifies that pressing a button during a scam call cannot lead to premium rate charges.
However, calling back or clicking to call after receiving a voicemail or a missed call may indeed incur premium rate charges.
Martin advises caution and recommends refraining from engaging with such calls.
Cautious Approach and Awareness: Martin emphasizes the importance of exercising caution when dealing with unsolicited calls urging urgent or secretive financial or technological actions.
He cautions individuals to be wary of unexpected calls from entities like HMRC, Microsoft, delivery firms, or the NHS, as they are common disguises used by criminal scammers.
The best course of action, if in doubt, is to exercise caution, not engage, and avoid calling back without verifying the authenticity of the call.