How can you secure mobile payments from deepfakes?

1 What are deepfakes?

Deepfakes are synthetic media that use artificial intelligence to manipulate or generate images, sounds, or texts. They can mimic the appearance, voice, or behavior of anyone, such as celebrities, politicians, or ordinary people. Deepfakes can be used for entertainment, satire, or education, but they can also be used for malicious purposes, such as blackmail, propaganda, or fraud.

2 How can deepfakes affect mobile payments?

Mobile payments rely on various methods of authentication, such as passwords, PINs, biometrics, or one-time codes. Deepfakes can compromise these methods by impersonating you or your bank and tricking you into revealing your credentials, approving transactions, or downloading malware. For example, a deepfake video call from your bank could ask you to verify your identity by scanning your face or fingerprint, or a deepfake voice message could ask you to enter a code to confirm a payment.

3 How can you detect deepfakes?

Detecting deepfakes can be difficult, as they can be very convincing and realistic. However, there are some signs that can help you spot them. Poor quality or inconsistency in the image, sound, or text is a tell-tale sign, such as blurriness, distortion, mismatch, or glitches. Unnatural or inappropriate behavior, expression, or speech is another indicator, such as blinking, smiling, or talking too much or too little. Additionally, a lack of context or evidence is a warning sign, such as missing details, timestamps, or sources, or conflicting information from other sources.

4 How can you prevent deepfakes?

Protecting yourself and your mobile payments from deepfakes is not only a technical challenge, but also a social and ethical one. To ensure your safety, it is important to be cautious of any unsolicited or unexpected communication from your bank or payment provider, particularly if they ask you to take any action or provide information. Additionally, verify the identity and authenticity of the sender or caller by checking their number, email, or website. Moreover, use strong and unique passwords, PINs, or biometrics for your mobile payment accounts and devices, and enable multi-factor authentication which requires more than one method of verification. Finally, update your mobile payment apps and devices regularly and install security software to protect them from malware.

5 How can you report deepfakes?

Reporting deepfakes is an essential step to prevent their propagation and to alert the authorities and the public. If you encounter or suspect a deepfake that affects your mobile payment, you should contact your bank or payment provider immediately and inform them of the incident and details. Additionally, report the deepfake to the relevant platform or service, such as a social media, messaging, or video call app, and flag it as fake or abusive. Also, report the deepfake to law enforcement or the cybercrime unit, providing them with any evidence or information you have. Mobile payments are a convenient and fast way to pay for goods and services, but they require you to be alert and cautious since deepfakes are a new and evolving threat that can compromise your security and privacy. By following these tips and best practices, you can protect your mobile payments from deepfakes while enjoying the advantages of mobile technology.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?