Is it possible to rip off a selfie? Understand how digital identity theft occurs with deepfake

Are you sure that the selfie sent by the customer is authentic? What if it has been manipulated into making a scammer assume another identity and commit digital fraud? Fraud is known to be increasingly sophisticated and accessible, especially after advances in artificial intelligence (AI). New threats emerge on a daily basis, such as Deepfake And the synthetic identities, which challenge anti-fraud systems.

The point is that these techniques no longer belong to science fiction. Scams are being used on a daily basis by criminals who seek to create false identities, circumvent identity validation processes, and cause harm to companies and consumers. According to the study by the consulting firm Forrester, The frauds with Deepfake had an increase of more than 2100%. This data demonstrates the speed with which AI is able to produce information and, consequently, to arm criminals.

In this article, you will learn about the operation of identity theft through Deepfake, the reasons for the increase in this practice, and the recommended actions to protect businesses. Let's go!

What are deepfake and digital identity theft?

Deepfakes are videos or images manipulated by AI that realistically replace a person's face or voice. The technique is created using advanced algorithms, known as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), that learn visual patterns and replicate them with precision. The content may be humorous, political, or even to commit fraud.

Some examples of scams include:

Create fake identity documents with the faces of third parties.
Deceive facial recognition and proof of life systems.
Imitate executives on video calls and authorize fraudulent payments.
Violate flows of Know Your Customer (KYC) based on the comparison of the person's face with the document photo.

Check out an example:

In the first image, you can see an authentic photograph of a person. On Monday, the original face was digitally replaced by that of actor Tom Cruise.

To create this type of material, criminals need to access authentic victim files, such as photos, videos, or audios. This information is used to feed the systems of artificial intelligence, allowing the Deepfake be produced with greater precision. Digital identity theft facilitates this process, as it provides the data and records necessary for the creation of highly convincing content.

The two combined practices also give rise to something called synthetic identity. In this type of fraud, criminals mix real people's information with fictitious data created by themselves. The result is a new identity that doesn't belong to anyone in particular, but that seems legitimate in the eyes of verification systems.

The synthetic identity can be used to open bank accounts, request credit cards, contract services, or even commit other crimes in the name of that invented person.

Why is the threat of deepfake growing?

Over the past two years, digital scams have become much more sophisticated. This was due to advances in technology, changes in the economy, and new ways of acting by criminals, creating an ideal scenario for the increased use of Deepfakes and synthetic identities. But, after all, what is behind this advance? Some points below help explain:

Accessibility of tools: currently, anyone with a cell phone can use face or voice generation apps.
Economics of digital crime: on the internet, Deepfakes and synthetic identities are of great value to criminals. In fact, there are sites for buying and selling fake profiles created with technology.
Failures in legacy processes: systems that use only automatic document reading or a basic facial check are increasingly easy to deceive.
Pressure for quick onboarding without security: the absence of adequate security measures in the registration process provides a greater risk of approving false identities.

Understanding these factors helps to strengthen the registration stages and to implement defense mechanisms against sophisticated scams.

But how do criminals circumvent systems?

One of the most advanced tactics is the video injection attack (Video-injection). In this method, the fraudster does not have to be physically present or wear masks. Just have a video Deepfake of the person who wishes to impersonate. The scammer intercepts the camera stream and injects, in place of the image captured in real time, a fake video previously generated by AI. Thus, traditional verification mechanisms - which only check if there is a face on the camera at that time - can be easily fooled.

The attack works as follows:

Generation of Deepfake: the criminal creates a realistic video with the face he wishes to fake.
Feed replacement: while capturing the selfie or proof of life, the criminal redirects the camera signal to the file deepfake, simulating a live device.
Mistaken validation: systems based solely on facial comparison or the detection of superficial vividness accept the recording as if it were legitimate.

Platforms and solutions that rely solely on simple visual confirmations are exposed, because the attack occurs even before traditional mechanisms detect inconsistencies.

How can companies protect themselves from fraud?

To contain the advance of Deepfake, it is necessary to take care of each stage of the process, from the moment the customer takes a selfie to the continuous follow-up after registration. The following are the best practices for an approach anti-fraud Sturdy:

1. Adoption of different biometric layers

The company may use different types of biometrics along with the detection of Proof of active and passive life. It is also preferable to use solutions of biometrics that have undergone rigorous safety tests, such as ISO/IEC 30107-3 iBeta. These technologies are able to identify fraud attempts, such as the use of masks or fake videos, even in sophisticated situations. Thus, the company reduces the risk of accepting registrations made by scammers.

2. Inclusion of behavioral and contextual signs

The organization must include geolocation, typing rate, network history, and telemetry of the device during certification and verification. This data creates an individual behavioral profile and reveals inconsistencies associated with fraud. The greater the risk to the business, the lower the exclusive dependence on facial biometrics should be.

Here are some benefits of this approach in different industries:

No Online retail, the inclusion of behavioral data helps validate the cell phone and the purchase pattern, reducing chargebacks.
No financial sector, the analysis of behavioral information makes it possible to identify suspicious account opening and prevent the granting of fraudulent credit.
Na distance education, the use of the data guarantees that only authorized students take the tests and access the classes.
Em public services, the improved check ensures that benefits and social programs reach the correct recipient.

3. Request for new identity verification in risky situations

Initial validation approves the customer, but the identity may be compromised later. The company needs to define clear criteria, such as high transaction value, device exchange, access to a new country, or request for sensitive data. If any change occurs, the technology must request a new selfie with proof of life or a second factor, such as Token and/or notification Push. This measure reinforces security without affecting the customer experience in other situations.

4. Adoption of adaptable anti-fraud platforms

The evolution of digital fraud requires the company to have solutions capable of keeping up with these changes. Traditional systems may not identify new methods used by scammers, which increases risks to the business. For this reason, having robust and adaptable platforms makes the difference in data protection and in the trust of the process. O Certfy, for example, offers a structure consisting of independent modules, which can be combined according to the needs of each business. The platform also has advanced anti-fraud technology, being a world reference in security and cutting-edge technology in the public and private sectors.

Anyway, can deepfake and identity theft be prevented?

This time, it was possible to understand the evolution of digital frauds. Deepfakes, synthetic identities and other sophisticated attacks are already part of scammers' daily lives, jeopardizing processes that previously seemed safe, such as sending a selfie.

The combination of accessible technology, new criminal actions, and flaws in traditional systems increases the number of scams and requires companies to implement effective solutions. The use of different biometric layers, the analysis of behavioral signals, and the investment in anti-fraud platforms are important measures to protect businesses and customers. With advanced technology, Certfy meets the specific needs of each organization, promoting more security in identification processes.

Did you like the topic? Then, find out more about digital protection in the article Documentoscopy: understand what it is and what is its importance in the fight against fraud.

Is it possible to rip off a selfie? Understand how digital identity theft occurs with deepfake

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