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Malay Mail
03-08-2025
- Malay Mail
‘It sounded just like my brother': How deepfake voices are fuelling money scams
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Imagine receiving a voice note on WhatsApp from someone who sounds exactly like your younger brother — his voice, tone, and even the way he says your name are all spot on. He says he's stuck at work, left his wallet behind, and needs RM1,500 urgently to sort something out before his boss finds out. There's even a familiar laugh at the end and you don't think twice because you really think it was him. But what if that voice was not real? CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) chief executive officer Datuk Amirudin Abdul Wahab has warned about a rise in scams involving AI-generated voice cloning, where scammers use artificial intelligence to impersonate family members, friends or colleagues. In many cases, the goal is to trick victims into sending money by creating a false sense of urgency and trust. 'Scammers use AI-generated voices to mimic friends, family members, or colleagues often via WhatsApp or phone calls to request urgent transfers or loans. 'Since early 2024, the police have investigated over 454 such cases, with losses totalling approximately RM2.72 million,' he said when contacted by Malay Mail. He then went on to say in the first three months of 2025, the country recorded 12,110 online fraud cases, involving scams such as fake e-commerce deals, bogus loans, and non-existent investment schemes, with total losses amounting to RM573.7 million. Citing Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), he said generative AI tools including deepfake videos, cloned voices, fake digital identities, and chatbots are increasingly being used to carry out these scams. 'There has also been a rise in scams involving AI-generated cloned voices. In one case, scammers mimicked the voice of a family member to simulate an emergency situation via WhatsApp voice notes, urging the recipient to urgently transfer funds,' he said. He noted that the voice was cloned from short public TikTok videos. Amirudin added that deepfake scams have also involved national icons like Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Lee Chong Wei, whose altered images and voices were used in fake advertisements promoting cryptocurrency and investment platforms. 'As of March 2025, CCID Bukit Aman confirmed the discovery of at least five deepfake videos impersonating both national and international personalities. Among the names falsely used were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Teresa Kok, and a senior Petronas executive. 'The manipulated clips were widely circulated online to promote fake investment platforms, many of which falsely promised returns of up to 100 times the original amount,' he added. He said the scams relied heavily on the authority and familiarity of well-known figures to convince unsuspecting viewers, especially on social media platforms where verification is often overlooked. Why it poses a serious threat, Amirudin explained that the rise of deepfake technology is alarming not just for its technical sophistication, but for the far-reaching impact it can have on society. At the individual level, he said deepfakes are being used to exploit public emotions, especially in scams that mimic the voices of family members, government officials, or well-known personalities. These tactics create a false sense of urgency, pushing victims into making quick decisions often involving money before they have a chance to think critically. 'Beyond personal safety, there is growing concern over the effect deepfakes have on public trust in the media. As manipulated content becomes increasingly indistinguishable from real footage or audio, it blurs the line between fact and fiction,' Amirudin said. He also said that this erosion of trust can sow confusion, making it easier for false narratives, misinformation, and disinformation to spread particularly on social media. At a broader level, he highlighted that national security is also at stake because the content that convincingly imitates political leaders or high-ranking officials could be weaponised to stir panic, manipulate public sentiment, or create political instability. How to verify and report suspicious AI-generated content With deepfakes becoming more difficult to detect, CSM is urging the public to stay vigilant and take advantage of available resources to verify suspicious content. He said the agency's Cyber999 Incident Response Centre supports both individuals and organisations in identifying cyber threats that involve technical components such as phishing, malware, or manipulated digital content. Members of the public can report suspicious activity through several channels: Online form and mobile application Email: cyber999[@] Hotline: 1-300-88-2999 (during office hours) or +60 19-266 5850 (24/7) 'Cyber999 also provides technical analysis of suspicious emails which users are encouraged to forward the full email header and content for expert review. 'In addition, the team shares regular security advisories and best practices, helping Malaysians keep up with the latest online threats and how to avoid them,' he said. He explained that Cyber999 handles technical cyber threats like phishing and malware, while deepfake cases without clear technical elements are usually referred to law enforcement or regulators. For small businesses, Amiruddin said CSM has developed the CyberSAFE SME Guidelines, which offer a simple checklist to help organisations detect, verify, and respond to suspicious online content. Wrapping up in our final part: It's not just tech — it's trust. We look at why media literacy is your best line of defence in the age of deepfakes, and how you can help protect not just yourself — but your family too. Recommended reading: Why seeing isn't believing anymore: What are deepfakes, and how to protect yourself from AI-generated scams AI scams are getting real: Here are the cases happening in Malaysia that you should know about
Yahoo
03-08-2025
- Yahoo
‘It sounded just like my brother': How deepfake voices are fuelling money scams
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Imagine receiving a voice note on WhatsApp from someone who sounds exactly like your younger brother — his voice, tone, and even the way he says your name are all spot on. He says he's stuck at work, left his wallet behind, and needs RM1,500 urgently to sort something out before his boss finds out. There's even a familiar laugh at the end and you don't think twice because you really think it was him. But what if that voice was not real? CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) chief executive officer Datuk Amirudin Abdul Wahab has warned about a rise in scams involving AI-generated voice cloning, where scammers use artificial intelligence to impersonate family members, friends or colleagues. In many cases, the goal is to trick victims into sending money by creating a false sense of urgency and trust. 'Scammers use AI-generated voices to mimic friends, family members, or colleagues often via WhatsApp or phone calls to request urgent transfers or loans. 'Since early 2024, the police have investigated over 454 such cases, with losses totalling approximately RM2.72 million,' he said when contacted by Malay Mail. He then went on to say in the first three months of 2025, the country recorded 12,110 online fraud cases, involving scams such as fake e-commerce deals, bogus loans, and non-existent investment schemes, with total losses amounting to RM573.7 million. Citing Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID), he said generative AI tools including deepfake videos, cloned voices, fake digital identities, and chatbots are increasingly being used to carry out these scams. 'There has also been a rise in scams involving AI-generated cloned voices. In one case, scammers mimicked the voice of a family member to simulate an emergency situation via WhatsApp voice notes, urging the recipient to urgently transfer funds,' he said. He noted that the voice was cloned from short public TikTok videos. Amirudin added that deepfake scams have also involved national icons like Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk Lee Chong Wei, whose altered images and voices were used in fake advertisements promoting cryptocurrency and investment platforms. 'As of March 2025, CCID Bukit Aman confirmed the discovery of at least five deepfake videos impersonating both national and international personalities. Among the names falsely used were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Elon Musk, Donald Trump, Teresa Kok, and a senior Petronas executive. 'The manipulated clips were widely circulated online to promote fake investment platforms, many of which falsely promised returns of up to 100 times the original amount,' he added. He said the scams relied heavily on the authority and familiarity of well-known figures to convince unsuspecting viewers, especially on social media platforms where verification is often overlooked. Why it poses a serious threat, Amirudin explained that the rise of deepfake technology is alarming not just for its technical sophistication, but for the far-reaching impact it can have on society. At the individual level, he said deepfakes are being used to exploit public emotions, especially in scams that mimic the voices of family members, government officials, or well-known personalities. These tactics create a false sense of urgency, pushing victims into making quick decisions often involving money before they have a chance to think critically. 'Beyond personal safety, there is growing concern over the effect deepfakes have on public trust in the media. As manipulated content becomes increasingly indistinguishable from real footage or audio, it blurs the line between fact and fiction,' Amirudin said. He also said that this erosion of trust can sow confusion, making it easier for false narratives, misinformation, and disinformation to spread particularly on social media. At a broader level, he highlighted that national security is also at stake because the content that convincingly imitates political leaders or high-ranking officials could be weaponised to stir panic, manipulate public sentiment, or create political instability. How to verify and report suspicious AI-generated content With deepfakes becoming more difficult to detect, CSM is urging the public to stay vigilant and take advantage of available resources to verify suspicious content. He said the agency's Cyber999 Incident Response Centre supports both individuals and organisations in identifying cyber threats that involve technical components such as phishing, malware, or manipulated digital content. Members of the public can report suspicious activity through several channels: Online form and mobile application Email: cyber999[@] Hotline: 1-300-88-2999 (during office hours) or +60 19-266 5850 (24/7) 'Cyber999 also provides technical analysis of suspicious emails which users are encouraged to forward the full email header and content for expert review. 'In addition, the team shares regular security advisories and best practices, helping Malaysians keep up with the latest online threats and how to avoid them,' he said. He explained that Cyber999 handles technical cyber threats like phishing and malware, while deepfake cases without clear technical elements are usually referred to law enforcement or regulators. For small businesses, Amiruddin said CSM has developed the CyberSAFE SME Guidelines, which offer a simple checklist to help organisations detect, verify, and respond to suspicious online content. Wrapping up in our final part: It's not just tech — it's trust. We look at why media literacy is your best line of defence in the age of deepfakes, and how you can help protect not just yourself — but your family too. Recommended reading: Why seeing isn't believing anymore: What are deepfakes, and how to protect yourself from AI-generated scams AI scams are getting real: Here are the cases happening in Malaysia that you should know about
The Star
22-07-2025
- The Star
INTERACTIVE: Fake or fact? Only three in 10 Malaysians verify info online
PETALING JAYA: Scams, hoaxes, and deepfakes are everywhere — but only three out of 10 Malaysians take the effort to verify information online. This means that 70% of people in Malaysia tend to accept what they see online without checking further on the Internet if such information is reliable or not. Such is based on the Statistics Department's survey report on ICT use and access by individuals and households for 2024. This problem could be caused by the lack of digital literacy in our education system, while social media platforms are becoming the top but unregulated sources of information for many, say cybersecurity experts. To make matters worse, there's a 5% increase in cybersecurity incidents from 2023 to last year, with the bulk of cases being online fraud. Nevertheless, there's a bright side - more Malaysians are protecting their devices and online accounts such as by creating strong passwords, limiting access to personal information, among others. Here's an overview of the online habits of Malaysians when it comes to safety, online protection and awareness. Click on the arrow buttons to see the next image: Incidents on the rise It's not helping that there was a spike in cybersecurity cases from 5,917 in 2023 to 6,209 last year, based on incidents reported to CyberSecurity Malaysia. Most or 68% of the total cases last year were involving fraud, followed by content-related cybercrimes at 9.3%. Here's a more detailed look at the cases, reported to CyberSecurity Malaysia's incident response centre, Cyber999: CyberSecurity Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab said the low rate of Malaysians verifying information is a big contributing factor to the rise in online fraud and cyber threat incidents. 'Cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting this by relying not just on technical attacks, but on manipulating trust, emotions, and misinformation to deceive victims,' he said in an interview. He said it created a fertile environment for cybercriminals to thrive - using methods like social engineering, phishing, fake job offers and investment scams. Amirudin urged the public to verify before sharing with fact-checking platforms like maintained by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Malaysians are also encouraged to cross-check announcements with established media outlets, including The Star. To report any cybersecurity concerns, the public can contact Cyber999 at cyber999@ or call 1-300-88-2999 (office hours) or +6019-266 5850 (24-hour helpline). Are we too trusting? There's also another growing threat - the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) to create and spread false material to deceive others. 'Those who do not verify online information face the risk of digital manipulation, a growing national threat in the age of AI-driven content,' says data privacy expert and consultant Luke Raj. One example was the elderly couple misled by a viral AI-generated video on social media promoting a fictional cable car in Ipoh, Perak. The couple, who saw the clip online, reportedly travelled from Kuala Lumpur to Perak only to be told by a hotel worker that the attraction did not exist. Cybersecurity expert Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Mohamed Ridza Wahiddin said this phenomenon is expected to continue and even intensify, as the quality and accessibility of AI tools improve rapidly. 'It will indeed become more difficult to tell what is real from fake as AI technology advances,' said Mohamed Ridza, who was with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia. To address this, CyberSecurity Malaysia's Amirudin said more could be done to invest in tools to detect and trace AI-generated media. 'However, detection alone is not enough, public awareness and digital literacy remain critical pillars in preventing the viral spread of misleading content,' he added. On why many Malaysians do not verify online information, Luke said our education system has yet to provide more focus on digital literacy among students. 'At the same time, elderly and rural communities remain isolated from fact-checking tools and training,' he said. Another reason was that social media and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp and TikTok were becoming the dominant sources of information, enabling fake news and hoaxes to be spread easily and widely. It was reported that the government was considering whether to make it a requirement to label AI-generated content to address the misuse of AI, such as scams, defamation and identity impersonation, especially on social media platforms. Penangites are most sceptical Across states, people in Penang had the highest percentage of those who verified the reliability of information found online at 38.7%. This was followed by residents in Putrajaya (38.2%), Kuala Lumpur (37.7%) and Selangor (37.1%), based on data last year. States which recorded the lowest rate were Sabah at 20.5% and Sarawak at 21.5%. Experts believe that the more urbanised an area, the higher the percentage of residents who took the step to check the sources of information online. Mohamed Ridza said residents in urban areas generally have higher incomes and better access to education, which correlates with greater digital literacy and cautious online behaviour. 'Urban states also benefit from better infrastructure not only for Internet but also for media and education, supporting a more informed population,' he said. On the bright side The good news is that most Malaysians are practising good online habits such as by protecting their devices and online accounts with strong passwords and login attempt notifications. Some 80% of people in Malaysia set up these effective measures to protect devices and online accounts, based on the data. Putrajaya was the state which practised this the best, having the highest percentage of residents who took such steps at 92.9%. The federal territory also emerged tops when it comes to changing privacy settings on devices, accounts or apps to limit the sharing of personal data such as a person's name, contact information and photos. Putrajaya had the highest percentage of users who protected their privacy online at 85%, followed by Johor at 83.8% and Selangor at 83.7%. Meanwhile, Selangor had the largest percentage of residents who were aware of cybercrimes like hacking, phishing, cyberbullying and catfishing. We can do more To better safeguard Malaysians online, digital literacy could be included in school lessons while more measures to proactively prevent scams could be done. 'Malaysia must embed digital literacy into the national education syllabus, from primary to tertiary levels not as an ICT subject, but as a cross-disciplinary civic skill,' urged Luke. He said our country should also launch national campaigns targeting WhatsApp, TikTok, and YouTube to raise awareness on misinformation. Efforts should include supporting detection of AI in viral content which spreads fake news. 'Malaysia can leverage MyDigital ID initiatives by integrating them with fraud alerts, fact-check nudges, and public safety notifications,' Luke suggested. He also called on companies that offer software applications to ensure that anti-virus and anti-malware protection is integrated into their apps. 'This is especially important for mobile users, who are increasingly targeted by hackers through malicious links, fake apps, and data theft,' he said. But ultimately, Malaysians must change for the better when it comes to being more vigilant online. 'Verifying content before sharing must become a norm, not a niche practice. 'Digital skepticism should not be viewed as distrust, but as a civic virtue,' Luke said. He also hoped families will protect the elderly and children by educating them about the potential dangers online. 'In an era where AI-generated deception can travel faster than truth, the only true firewall is a critical, informed society,' Luke added. Here are a few things Malaysians can do to wise up online, based on advice from the experts in this article: Cybersecurity tips - Verify info online by Meikeng
Barnama
16-07-2025
- Business
- Barnama
TNB's AI-powered Maintenance Project Wins ASEAN Innovation Award
GENERAL KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's leading electricity utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), has received the ASEAN Innovation Business Platform (AIBP) Enterprise Innovation Award 2025 in the Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI) category for its groundbreaking AI-powered predictive maintenance initiative. AIBP, in a statement, said TNB received the award at the 49th AIBP Conference here last Wednesday, noting that the event is widely recognised as a regional benchmark for digital transformation, honouring organisations that deliver innovative, scalable, and high-impact solutions across ASEAN. "TNB's AI-powered predictive maintenance initiative transforms management of its extensive 11kV underground cable network, traditionally affected by numerous breakdowns annually. "Successfully piloted in Selangor with over 80 per cent accuracy in predicting failures up to two years in advance, the project reduces cable failures by 15–20 per cent, significantly enhancing customer service reliability," read the statement. Senior leaders in asset management and analytics represented TNB at the ceremony, alongside prominent industry figures, including CyberSecurity Malaysia chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab, National AI Office CEO Shamsul Majid, and AIBP CEO Irza Fauzan Suprapto. It said that there were over 100 nominated projects from both private and government-linked corporations in that category. Other finalists included major regional players such as Petronas, Genting, AirAsia, Sime Darby, and Allianz, highlighting the project's regional competitiveness and innovation strength. It added that the winning project underwent a rigorous evaluation process conducted by an independent panel of experts spanning digital government, economic policy, enterprise technology, and global innovation sectors. "Final presentations were held in May, with judging criteria focusing on impact, scalability, innovation, and value creation.
New Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia, Asean step up AI security amid rising cyber threats
SINGAPORE: Malaysia and Asean member states are ramping up efforts to strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) security initiatives and standards, including exploring cross-border talent-sharing proposals, in a bid to counter the growing threat of global cybercrime. CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM) chief executive officer Datuk Dr Amirudin Abdul Wahab, emphasised the need for Asean countries to build regional trust around cross-border data exchanges to tackle cybersecurity threats in a more integrated manner. Cyber threats are largely similar across countries, and addressing these risks requires joint efforts among nations, he said while speaking at the recent GITEX ASIA x AI Everything Singapore Exhibition. Amirudin highlighted that while Asean countries already collaborate through the Asean Regional CERT—a platform for sharing cyber incident information—additional measures are needed, particularly as AI technologies evolve rapidly. "Initiatives to strengthen AI security are very important; for example, we in Malaysia are working on something called regional standards related to AI security. This matter was also decided and agreed upon in the Asean Digital Senior Officials' Meeting (ADGSOM) earlier this year. "However, at the same time, we need to build a form of regional trust in cross-border data exchange that includes participation in simulation training and the development of our own platforms and various other things," he said. He highlighted that while Asean already has the Asean Regional Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) for sharing cyber incident information, there is now an urgent need to fortify frameworks in line with AI's rapid evolution. Amirudin also called for greater mobility of cybersecurity and AI talent across Asean to address skills shortages and enhance regional cooperation. Talent in cybersecurity and AI remains scarce. Facilitating cross-border talent movement could significantly strengthen regional collaboration, particularly amid increasing globalisation challenges, he added. He also shared Malaysia's national efforts to ensure the ethical and secure development and deployment of AI technologies. Malaysia's National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) has developed seven frameworks focused on areas including AI security, cybersecurity for AI, and AI sovereignty. "These seven frameworks cover areas such as AI security, cybersecurity for AI, and sovereignty in AI, in addition to various other areas, which also involve the participation of stakeholders in cybersecurity. "It does not only involve the government, but also players in the public, private and academic industries play a role," he said. Adding to the discussion, senior officer of the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) Justin Ang emphasised that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and that Asean nations must enhance international and regional cooperation urgently. He said that as a country, Singapore is certainly small compared to the influence of the Asean coalition to strengthen cybersecurity. "Basically, we want to exchange information faster because it is urgent given that AI technology is moving so fast," he said. Similarly, Panupong Thanutong, head of IT security and acting director of the IT office at Thailand's National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), stressed the immediate need to build robust regional resilience against cyber threats. "We have a lot of regional cooperation and the risks of AI are burdensome and need to be assessed together. We need to have a platform to share newly received (threat) information," he said. Colonel Francel Margareth Padilla-Taborlupa, spokesperson for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, cautioned that the AI landscape is evolving rapidly. She said that although each country has established laws and policies, the technology is always moving fast and making it difficult to adapt existing legislation and frameworks to address the threats of the technology. "In the Philippines, we are advocating for stronger policies to address this evolving technology landscape, but there are many aspects that need attention, especially in terms of ethics. For example, AI and robotics integrated into military systems without proper control can lead to unintended consequences. "However, the main role of the military is to protect the people and maintain national security, so we must establish cooperation and coordination with other government agencies, non-government agencies, and also the public sector as a whole," she said.
