Dissected: How scammers built a fake Zoom call from real videos of PM Wong and other Singapore leaders
Scammers created a sophisticated fake Zoom call using deepfake-style techniques and looped footage of Singaporean leaders to defraud a victim of S$4.9 million. The perpetrators utilized dated YouTube videos to make the fabricated virtual event appear legitimate.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the growing threat of AI-assisted social engineering and the need for increased public awareness regarding digital verification.
Analysis of full footage shared exclusively with CNA found that the scammers used obscure or dated YouTube videos of high-profile figures, alongside other deceptive techniques, to make their fabricated virtual event convincing.
To make the Zoom call look legitimate, the scammers padded it with extra "participants" who did not speak and whose feeds were found to be playing in a loop. (Graphic: CNA/Teha Muhamad)
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