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Karthik gets a call from his friend Mridul who asks for some money to for his mother’s treatment. After a brief talks Karthik agrees to send the money on the UPI id given by Mridul.

Kartik may have helped his friend in need, but he won’t get his money back. Because he has not sent it to Mridul, but to Mridul’s AI avatar.  Yes, AI is not only taking your jobs, but, also your money.  Cyber fraudsters are looting you using  AI. They are cloning people’s voices, faces, etc. They use AI-based Deepfake Technology and dupe their friends and acquaintances. This AI Chatbot is named as FraudGPT or WormGPT.

Kartik is not the only person who has been a victim of AI fraud. According to a survey by McAfee Corp, 47 percent, or nearly half of Indians over the age of 18 have either received such AI voice calls or know someone who has fallen prey to such frauds. This figure is almost double the global average, which is 25 percent.

Almost 83 percent of Indians who participated in the survey said  they lost money in such frauds. Out of this, 48 percent said that the amount cheated was more than 50,000 rupees.  Another shocking aspect was that 69 percent said that they cannot tell the difference between AI generated voice and real voice.  What is even more dangerous is that it only takes 3 seconds of audio to clone, or copy someone’s voice using AI.

How is FraudGPT operated?
FraudGPT is an AI Chatbot. It uses the generative models’ ability to produce realistic or real-looking text.

Language generative model programs have been created on the dark web. These can copy your conversations, your mail communications, copy the way you write. these tools are being used to send phishing mails, messages, copy social media profiles. These tools can clone your voice and face by copying your video, audio clips.

What else is FraudGPT doing?
FraudGPT is also distributing malware.  You think your acquaintance has sent you a mail. So, you open the mail.  This causes malware to reach your computer and starts sending your data to the hacker. So, you must always verify every mail from your end.

FraudGPT chatbots are easily sold
According to a report published by a CID officer, FraudGPT chatbot access is being sold on Telegram channels. These chatbots are available for monthly subscription fees ranging from 200 to 1,700 dollars, that is about 16 thousand rupees to 1 lakh 40 thousand rupees.  This means cyber fraudsters are spending up to lakhs to earns crores by duping people.

Where can you file a complaint?
If you have fallen prey to any such fraud whether through hacking, phishing mail, or deepfake video call,  you should immediately call cyber crime helpline number – 1930. Give all the information, like the number from which the call came, the person whose clone was talking to you, the bank account where the money you deposited, the account from which the money was debited.  The account in which your money was credited will be frozen for 48 hours. In these 48 hours you can file an FIR at the local police station. Apart from this, you can also complain on cybercrime.gov.in.

If you become alert beforehand then it won’t come to this point. First of all don’t ever pick up phone from unknown numbers on WhatsApp or Telegram,  especially video calls. If you do pick up, then, as experts have told you, you should ask trick questions.  This way if you stay alert then you will be saved from falling prey to such frauds.