Caterer tricked by AI deepfake of UiTM deputy rector

New Straits Times

3 days ago

ALOR STAR: A young caterer avoided major losses after falling victim to an elaborate scam involving an artificial intelligence (AI)-generated video call impersonating a university official.
The fraudster, posing as Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Penang deputy rector Dr Ahmad Asri Abd Samat, contacted 20-year-old Muhammad Danial Azim Mohd Yusof through text and a hyper-realistic AI video call to place a fictitious catering order last Tuesday.
Danial said the scam began after he submitted a quotation for 100 meal packages worth RM4,500 for the university's programme at its Merbok branch.
The impersonator then made an additional request to include door gifts and insisted that these be procured from a 'preferred vendor'.
"I told him I already had a vendor, but he said the university only worked with their appointed supplier and that I needed to follow protocol," Danial told the New Straits Times after lodging a report at the Kota Setar police headquarters yesterday.
He was then given the contact number of the so-called vendor, who demanded an upfront payment of RM14,400 and refused to accept a formal letter of order (LO), claiming they only dealt with private arrangements.
"I told 'Dr Asri' about the vendor's demand. He said if there were no door gifts, there would be no programme. Later, the vendor offered to accept a 50 per cent payment of RM7,200 instead," he said.
Growing suspicious, Danial refused to pay.
However, having already prepared the food, he delivered it to UiTM Merbok on Saturday, only to learn he had been scammed.
"The university's security guard looked at my LO and told me I'm the third person that day asking for Dr Asri — and the only one who actually brought food."
Danial later found out that other vendors across Penang and Kedah had also been targeted in similar scams.
The impersonation was so convincing that when the real Dr Ahmad Asri contacted Danial to clarify the matter, the resemblance stunned him.
"He said, 'I'm the real one. Want to compare faces?' When I video called him, I was shocked — the AI scammer version looked exactly like him," he added.
Danial said UiTM Merbok confirmed no such order had ever been made. The real Dr Asri has also lodged a police report after learning that his identity had been used in several impersonation scams.
Meanwhile, Kota Setar police chief Assistant Commissioner Siti Nor Salawati Saad confirmed that a report had been received. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' jail, whipping, and a fine.