#FactCheck - AI-Cloned Audio in Viral Anup Soni Video Promoting Betting Channel Revealed as Fake

Introduction:

Technology has become a vital part of everyone’s life nowadays, it occupies essential activities of a person’s life whether we are working or playing and studying. I would say from education to corporate, technology makes everything easier and simpler to achieve the goals for a particular thing.  Corporate companies are using technology for their day-to-day work and there are many law-based foundations that are publishing blogs and papers for legal awareness, many lawyers use internet technology for promoting themselves which amounts to growth in their work. Some legal work can now be done by machines, which was previously unthinkable. Large disputes frequently have many documents to review. Armies of young lawyers and paralegals are typically assigned to review these documents. This work can be done by a properly trained machine. Machine drafting of documents is also gaining popularity. We’ve also seen systems that can forecast the outcome of a dispute. We are starting to see machines take on many tasks that we once thought was solely the domain of lawyers.

How to expand law firms and the corporate world with the help of technology?

If we talk about how lawyers’ lives will be impacted by technology then I would explain about law students first. Students are the one who is utilizing the technology at its best for their work, tech could be helpful in students’ lives. as law students use SCC online and manupatra, which are used for case laws. And during their law internships, they use it to help their seniors to find appropriate cases for them. and use it as well for their college research work. SCC and manupatra are very big platforms by which we can say if students use technology for their careers, it will impact their law career in the best ways.

A lawyer running a law firm is not a small task, and there are plenty of obstacles to that, such as a lack of tech solutions, failure to fulfil demands, and inability to innovate, these obstacles prevent the growth of some firms. The right legal tech can grow an organization or a law firm and there will be fewer obstacles.

Technology can be proven as a good mechanism to grow the law firm, as everything depends on tech, from court work to corporate. If we talk about covid during 2020, everything shifted towards the virtual world, court hearings switched to online mode due to covid which proved as a bone to the legal system as the case hearings were speedy and there was no physical contact due to that.

Legal automation is also helping law firms to grow in a competitive world. And it has other benefits also like shifting tedious tasks from humans to machines, allowing the lawyer to work on more valuable work. I would say that small firms should also need to embrace automation for competition in the corporate sector. Today, artificial intelligence offers a solution to solve or at least make the access-to-justice issue better and completely transform our traditional legal system.

There was a world-cited author, Richard Susskind, OBE, who talked about the future of law and lawyers and he wrote a book, Online Courts and the Future of Justice. Richard argues that technology is going to bring about a fascinating decade of change in the legal sector and transform our court system. Although automating our old ways of working plays a part in this, even more, critical is that artificial intelligence and technology will help give more individuals access to justice.

The rise of big data has also resulted in rapid identification systems, which allow police officers to quickly see an individual’s criminal history through a simple search.The FBI’s Next Generation Identification (NGI) system matches individuals with their criminal history information using biometrics such as fingerprints, palm prints, iris recognition, and facial recognition. The NGI’s current technologies are constantly being updated, and new ones are being added, to make the NGI the most comprehensive way to gather up-to-date information on the person being examined

During covid, there were e-courts services in courts, and lawyers and judges were taking cases online. After the covid, the use of technology increased in the law field also from litigation to corporate. As technology can also safeguard confidential information between parties and lawyers. There was ODR, (online dispute resolution) happening meetings that were taking place online mode.

File sharing is inevitable in the practice of law. Yet sometimes the most common ways of sharing (think email) are not always the most secure. With the remote office, the boom has come an increased need for alternate file-sharing solutions. There is data encryption to protect data as it is a reliable method to protect confidential data and information.

Conclusion-

Technology has been playing a vital role in the legal industry and has increased the efficiency of legal offices and the productivity of clerical workers. With the advent of legal tech, there is greater transparency between legal firms and clients. Clients know how many fees they must pay and can keep track of the day-to-day progress of the lawyer on their case. Also, there is no doubt that technology, if used correctly, is fast and efficient – more than any human individual. This can prove to be of great assistance to any law firm.  Lawyers of the future will be the ones who create the systems that will solve their client’s problems. These legal professionals will include legal knowledge engineers, legal risk managers, system developers, design thinking experts, and others. These people will use technology to create new ways of solving legal problems. In many ways, the legal sector is experiencing the same digitization that other industries have, and because it is so document-intensive, it is actually an industry that stands to benefit greatly from what technology has to offer.

Introduction

Romance scams have been rised in India. A staggering 66 percent of individuals in India have been ensnared by the siren songs of deceitful online dating schemes. These are not the attempts of yesteryears but rather a new breed of scams, seamlessly weaving the threads of traditional deceit with the sinew of cutting-edge technologies such as generative AI and deep fakes. A report by Tenable highlights the rise of romance scams in India, which now combine traditional tactics with advanced technologies like generative AI and deepfakes. Over 69% of Indians struggle to distinguish between artificial and authentic human voices. Scammers are using celebrity impersonations and platforms like Facebook to lure victims into a false sense of security.

The Romance Scam

A report by Tenable, the exposure management company, illuminates the disturbing evolution of these romance scams. It reveals a reality: AI-generated deep lakes have attained a level of sophistication where an astonishing 69 percent of Indians confess to struggling to discern between artificial and authentic human voices. This technological prowess has armed scammers with the tools to craft increasingly convincing personas, enabling them to perpetrate their nefarious acts with alarming success.

In 2023 alone, 43 percent of Indians reported falling victim to AI voice scams, with a staggering 83 percent of those targeted suffering financial loss. The scammers, like puppeteers, manipulate their digital marionettes with a deftness that is both awe-inspiring and horrifying. They have mastered the art of impersonating celebrities and fabricating personas that resonate with their targets, particularly preying on older demographics who may be more susceptible to their charms.

Social media platforms, which were once heralded as the town squares of the 21st century, have unwittingly become fertile grounds for these fraudulent activities. They lure victims into a false sense of security before the scammers orchestrate their deceitful symphonies. Chris Boyd, a staff research engineer at Tenable, issues a stern warning against the lure of private conversations, where the protective layers of security are peeled away, leaving individuals exposed to the machinations of these digital charlatans.

The Vulnerability of Individuals 

The report highlights the vulnerability of certain individuals, especially those who are older, widowed, or experiencing memory loss. These individuals are systematically targeted by heartless criminals who exploit their longing for connection and companionship. The importance of scrutinising requests for money from newfound connections is underscored, as is the need for meticulous examination of photographs and videos for any signs of manipulation or deceit.

'Increasing awareness and maintaining vigilance are our strongest weapons against these heartless manipulations, 'safeguarding love seekers from the treacherous web of AI-enhanced deception.'

The landscape of love has been irrevocably altered by the prevalence of smartphones and the deep proliferation of mobile internet. Finding love has morphed into a digital odyssey, with more and more Indians turning to dating apps like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. Yet, as with all technological advancements, there lurks a shadowy underbelly. The rapid adoption of dating sites has provided potential scammers with a veritable goldmine of opportunity.

It is not uncommon these days to hear tales of individuals who have lost their life savings to a person they met on a dating site or who have been honey-trapped and extorted by scammers on such platforms. A new study, titled 'Modern Love' and published by McAfee ahead of Valentine's Day 2024, reveals that such scams are rampant in India, with 39 percent of users reporting that their conversations with a potential love interest online turned out to be with a scammer.

The study also found that 77 percent of Indians have encountered fake profiles and photos that appear AI-generated on dating websites or apps or on social media, while 26 percent later discovered that they were engaging with AI-generated bots rather than real people. 'The possibilities of AI are endless, and unfortunately, so are the perils,' says Steve Grobman, McAfee’s Chief Technology Officer.

Steps to Safeguard 

Scammers have not limited their hunting grounds to dating sites alone. A staggering 91 percent of Indians surveyed for the study reported that they, or someone they know, have been contacted by a stranger through social media or text message and began to 'chat' with them regularly. Cybercriminals exploit the vulnerability of those seeking love, engaging in long and sophisticated attempts to defraud their victims.

McAfee offers some steps to protect oneself from online romance and AI scams:

• Scrutinise any direct messages you receive from a love interest via a dating app or social media.
• Be on the lookout for consistent, AI-generated messages which often lack substance or feel generic.
• Avoid clicking on any links in messages from someone you have not met in person.
• Perform a reverse image search of any profile pictures used by the person.
• Refrain from sending money or gifts to someone you haven’t met in person, even if they send you money first.
• Discuss your new love interest with your trusted friend. It can be easy to overlook red flags when you are hopeful and excited.

Conclusion

The path is fraught with illusions, and only by arming oneself with knowledge and scepticism can one hope to find true connection without falling prey to the mirage of deceit. As we navigate this treacherous terrain, let us remember that the most profound connections are often those that withstand the test of time and the scrutiny of truth.

References 

• https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/story/valentine-day-alert-deepfakes-genai-amplifying-romance-scams-in-india-warn-researchers-417245-2024-02-13
• https://www.indiatimes.com/amp/news/india/valentines-day-around-40-per-cent-indians-have-been-scammed-while-looking-for-love-online-627324.html
• https://zeenews.india.com/technology/valentine-day-deepfakes-in-romance-scams-generative-ai-in-scams-romance-scams-in-india-online-dating-scams-in-india-ai-voice-scams-in-india-cyber-security-in-india-2720589.html
• https://www.mcafee.com/en-us/consumer-corporate/newsroom/press-releases/2023/20230209.html

‍

Executive Summary:

Social media is buzzing with a link  that claims to offer an iPhone 15 as a gift from LuLu Hype­rmarket, presente­d as part of Holi celebrations. This article e­xamines the deceptive tactics behind this fraudulent offe­r and provides guidance on recognizing and avoiding such scams.

False Claim:

The link be­ing shared is misleading and falsely claims that LuLu Hype­rmarket is giving away free iPhone­ 15 phones. This is taking advantage of the Holi fe­stival to trick unsuspecting people. Whe­n users click on the link, they are­ redirected multiple­ times and end up on a page with LuLu Hype­rmarket's photo and some simple que­stions. Fake comments are also use­d to make the offer se­em genuine, but it is all a de­ception.

The Deceptive Scheme:

The plan uses psychological tricks by linking the offe­r to a famous brand and a popular celebration. The landing page's simplicity and phoney comments try to make users trust it and fe­el like they ne­ed to act fast, so they'll join the scam.

The Fraudulent Campaign Analysed:

The­ scammers are using psychological tactics to manipulate pe­ople. They're e­xploiting the trust people have­ in LuLu Hypermarket and the e­xcitement around the ne­w iPhone 15 during the Holi festival. The­ fake questionnaire se­rves no real purpose, but it's a way to e­ngage users and make the­ scam seem legitimate­. Testimonials claiming people have­ successfully receive­d the iPhone 15 are also fake­, designed to create­ a false sense of cre­dibility. Users are prompted to se­lect a "gift box," which adds an interactive e­lement to draw them in furthe­r. When a user sele­cts a box, they're falsely congratulate­d on winning the iPhone 15, giving them a se­nse of accomplishment. Finally, users are­ urged to share the link via WhatsApp to "claim" the­ gift, spreading the scam to more pote­ntial victims.

What do we Analyse? :

• We analyse the deceptive tactics employed by the scam, including psychological manipulation, false engagement techniques, and fake testimonials, all aimed at convincing users of the offer's legitimacy.

Link : (https://sophisticate­ddistort[.]top/nTiwpTTTT526?llue1696559991144)

• It is important to note that at this particular point, there has not been any official declaration or a proper confirmation of an offer made by Lulu Hypermarket So, people must be very careful when encountering such messages because they are often employed as lures in phishing attacks or misinformation campaigns. Before engaging or transmitting such claims, it is always advisable to authenticate the information from trustworthy sources in order to protect oneself online and prevent the spread of wrongful information
• The campaign is hosted on a third party domain instead of any official Website of LuLu Hypermarket, this raised suspicion. Also the domain was registered last year.
• The intercepted request revealed a connection to a China-linked analytical service, Baidu in the backend.

‍

‍

• Domain Name: sophisticateddistort.top
• Registry Domain ID: D20230629G10001G_04181852-top
• Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.west263.com
• Registrar URL: www.west263.com
• Updated Date: 2023-07-01T02:55:34Z
• Creation Date: 2023-06-29T06:05:00Z
• Registry Expiry Date: 2024-06-29T06:05:00Z
• Registrar: Chengdu west dimension digital
• Registrant State/Province: Shan Xi
• Registrant Country: CN (China)
• Name Server: curt.ns.cloudflare.com
• Name Server: harlee.ns.cloudflare.com

Note: Cybercriminal used Cloudflare technology to mask the actual IP address of the fraudulent website.

CyberPeace Advisory:

• Do not open those messages received from social platforms in which you think that such messages are suspicious or unsolicited. In the beginning, your own discretion can become your best weapon.
• Falling prey to such scams could compromise your entire system, potentially granting unauthorised access to your microphone, camera, text messages, contacts, pictures, videos, banking applications, and more. Keep your cyber world safe against any attacks.
• Never, in any case, reveal such sensitive data as your login credentials and banking details to entities you haven't validated as reliable ones.
• Before sharing any content or clicking on links within messages, always verify the legitimacy of the source. Protect not only yourself but also those in your digital circle.
• For the sake of the truthfulness of offers and messages, find the official sources and companies directly. Verify the authenticity of alluring offers before taking any action.

Conclusion:

During the festive season, as we engage in merrymaking and online activities, we should be mindful of fraudster's exploitation strategies. Another instance is the illegitimate Lulu Hypermarket offer of the upcoming iPhone 15. With the knowledge and carefulness, we can report any suspicious actions to avoid being victims of fraud in this way. Keep in mind the fact that legitimate offers are usually issued by trustworthy sources while if, the offer looks too good to be true, then it is rather a scam.

‍

‍

‍