Key Takeaways:
- Four PKR party MPs were the victims of nearly identical AI deepfake blackmail emails.
- The extortionists demanded a ransom of $100,000 in crypto for the fabrication of videos.
- The MPs filed police reports and warn these attacks may be for the purposes of undermining democracy.
Table of Contents
A Sinister and Sloppy AI Deepfake Campaign
The disturbing trend came to light when Subang MP Wong Chen’s office opened a threatening email on September 12th. The message contained a fabricated pornographic image featuring his likeness and a demand for a $100,000 crypto ransom via a QR code. The scheme was quickly exposed as lazy and unprofessional when Wong discovered that fellow MP Rafizi Ramli had received an identical email the same day. The only difference was the face in the image; everything else, from the room’s decor to the bedding, was exactly the same.
The Crypto Link and Official Reaction
Use of crypto is the most contemporary expression of cyber-extortion, and it allows perpetrators anonymity when demanding ransom or payment. The targeted MPs did not respond to the demands. Rather, they contacted the police and their country’s cybersecurity response teams. Wong Chen has also consulted Information Technology (IT) and crypto professionals to track the illegal online ‘money trail’ of the blackmailers, which may involve Malaysia’s central bank and their securities commission to trace the specified crypto account.
The Threat Beyond Individuals
Kota Anggerik MP Najwan Halimi, the fourth lawmaker to join the group, later confirmed a coordinated campaign of targeting elected officials. The MPs voiced very alarmed sentiments that these attacks are more than simple extortion attempts. Rafizi Ramli, who has faced hacking attempts several times, suggested that the attacks could be for accessing government devices as a sign of intimidation to attack and undermine elected officials, imposing threats to parliamentary democracy itself.
Read also: Malaysia Bets $6.35M on AI to Rescue Journalism – Can Tech Outpace Fake News?
A New Era of Digital Threats
These episodes serve as an illustration of the very powerful and potentially dangerous intersection of AI deepfake tech and crypto nowadays. Trendy and sophisticated cyber attacks go beyond just financially motivated scams, landing directly in the spheres of political destabilization and character assassination.
For crypto, it’s just another instance of its tools being weaponized for criminal purposes, which demonstrates the urgent need for better tracing capabilities and public awareness about the immutable and traceable nature of blockchain transactions, being both a curse and a blessing.
Final Thought: As AI manipulation becomes more and more effortless, will verifying digital identity be the most important use case for blockchain technology?
FAQs
What is an AI deepfake?
An AI deepfake is a synthetic media, meaning that a person’s likeness (photo or video) is convincingly replaced with someone else’s, using artificial intelligence, often to produce false, malicious content.
Why do criminals demand crypto?
Criminals are demanding crypto because it is perceived as anonymous, something that cannot be seized or traced back in the same way as bank transfers.
What should you do if targeted?
Don’t pay. Stop engaging with the content immediately. Don’t scan any codes and report to law enforcement and cybersecurity professionals.
For more cybercrime stories, read: Crypto-Stealing Malware Found in 18 Popular NPM Packages
