These scams have notably featured the images of President Andrzej Duda and Health Minister Izabela Leszczyna, among others.
According to NASK, recent deepfake scams have circulated videos online that falsely depict figures such as Duda, Leszczyna, football star Robert Lewandowski, InPost CEO Rafał Brzoska, and influencer Kamil Labudda (Budda) endorsing "exceptionally profitable" financial investments. These videos employ advanced deepfake technology to mimic the voices and mouth movements of these individuals, creating highly convincing but entirely fake messages, NASK reported.
NASK has observed a notable rise in the use of deepfake technology in scams since the beginning of May, with the fabricated content becoming increasingly credible. A significant incident occurred in March 2024, when a deepfake video featuring Polish logistics company InPost CEO Rafał Brzoska appeared on Facebook, promoting a fraudulent investment. Despite Brzoska's swift action and reporting to the platform's administrators, it took several days for Facebook to respond and remove the video.
NASK experts highlight the techniques used in these scams, such as lip-sync manipulation, where the spoken words and mouth movements of the person in the video are altered to fit the fake message.
Ewelina Bartuzi-Trokielewicz, head of the Deepfake Analysis Team at NASK, explained that modern technology allows criminals to easily manipulate audiovisual material. Using "text-to-speech" technology, only a few seconds of recorded voice are needed to create a new soundtrack synchronized with video footage.
For "speech-to-speech" technology, which involves more complex elements like intonation and emotion, about one minute of original material is required to produce a convincing fake.
"Social media users should approach unverified or suspicious video content with caution, especially those materials that could influence public perceptions of prominent figures and institutions," Bartuzi-Trokielewicz warned.
NASK has also noted that deepfake materials are often embedded within the template of a television broadcast, typically a news program, to enhance the perceived authenticity and credibility of the content.
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Source: IAR, Bloomberg