• Source:JND
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JE Technology Desk: WhatsApp is a popular app for instant communication between friends and family. Due to this massive popularity, the app is among the top favourites of scammers to dupe people. In the latest case, a man in Kerala lost Rs 40,000 to fraudsters, who used artificial intelligence tools and reached out via WhatsApp video calls to scam him by posing as his former colleague, PTI reported.

Kerala News: WhatsApp video call scam

PS Radhakrishnan (the victim) received a video call on WhatsApp from his workmate (both worked last in Andhra Pradesh). But it turned out that it was an AI-generated video interface to simulate his friend's personality and extort money, Hari Sankar, Cyber Wing SP, shared with the news agency.

Also Read: Pink WhatsApp With New Look And Extra Features Is A Scam; What To Do If You've Downloaded It

How the scam unfolded?

According to Kerala Kaumudi, the fraudster called the victim via an unknown mobile number which later turned into a WhatsApp video call after the scammer convinced him that he was none other than his coworker. The fraudster told him a relative was admitted to a hospital and needed Rs 40,000 money urgently. Once the man transferred the amount, another demand of Rs 35,000 cropped up. As things started to appear suspicious, he contacted his teammate to discover the scam.

These scamsters used 'Deep Fake technology' to create a video of their friend that looked close to real using AI. The video interface could only work on a blurred background with minimal chin, lip and eye movement, the report added.

Also Read: WhatsApp Scams: Wacky Life Lessons To Imposters, Amusing Ways Fraudsters Use To Con People

According to the cyber arm of the Kerala police, the information was received on Friday, and the authorities contacted the concerned bank to block the transfer process.

If you notice any such activity on your number or get scammed, immediately call 1930 and report the matter. While this is among the novel ways used lately, several reports of part-time job ad lottery fraud on WhatsApp continue to make rounds of the internet. It is recommended that a user should not respond to requests that promise windfall profits and block and report the contact to WhatsApp.