Scammers Exploit AI Deepfakes of Indonesian President to Deceive Public
A video circulating on Instagram appears to show Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto addressing the nation, dressed in a traditional black hat and shirt. In the clip, he asks viewers, “Who has yet to receive aid from me? What do you need right now?”
At first glance, the video looks authentic—his lips move naturally, and he blinks as expected. However, authorities recently uncovered that this was a sophisticated deepfake scam that has duped individuals across 20 provinces.
Victims of the scam were instructed to contact a WhatsApp number and pay an “administrative fee” ranging from 250,000 to one million rupiah ($15-$60) in exchange for financial assistance that never materialized.
Rise in Deepfake Scams
Since Indonesia’s last election, experts have warned about an increase in deepfake technology being used to spread misinformation. These AI-generated videos, which mimic public figures, are now being leveraged by fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting citizens.
One victim, 56-year-old Aryani, fell prey to a similar scam after seeing a deepfake video of a well-known businessman. She transferred 200,000 rupiah, believing she was receiving financial aid.
“I needed money, but instead, I was asked to send money,” she said, adding that scammers even conducted video calls to make the deception more convincing.
During Indonesia’s presidential campaign, deepfakes were widely used to manipulate public perception, both in favor of and against candidates. Now, criminals are using the same technology for financial scams.
Widespread Deception
An investigation by AFP fact-checkers revealed that the account responsible for the fake Prabowo video had also posted similar deepfakes featuring other high-profile individuals, including Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, all promoting fraudulent financial aid.
Police have arrested one suspect who managed to collect 65 million rupiah ($4,000) through the scheme, according to Himawan Bayu Aji, director of Indonesia’s National Cyber Crime Unit. Another individual was detained for a separate deepfake-related fraud, though authorities have not disclosed the total amount of money stolen.
Despite these arrests, the scams continue to spread. Fake videos of President Prabowo remain active on social media, with dozens circulating on TikTok under hashtags such as “Prabowo Shares Blessings.”
AFP journalists identified at least 22 TikTok accounts promoting similar scams since Prabowo took office in October. Some scammers are taking advantage of his rising popularity to lure victims.
One TikTok account with over 77,000 followers amassed 7.5 million views on a falsified video claiming Prabowo was distributing cash. Another account, which has thousands of followers, has shared over 100 deepfake videos since January.
Efforts to Combat Fake Content
In response, TikTok removed one of the scam videos and suspended the associated account. The platform stated it would continue to remove misleading content that violates its community guidelines. However, Facebook’s parent company, Meta, has yet to comment on the matter.
AFP, along with over 100 other fact-checking organizations, collaborates with TikTok and Meta to identify and verify misleading posts.
The Growing Accessibility of Deepfake Tools
According to Aribowo Sasmito, co-founder of the Indonesian fact-checking group Mafindo, deepfake scams are becoming increasingly common due to the accessibility of AI tools.
“We have been spotting new deepfake scams every week,” he said. “Since last year, AI technology has become more affordable, making these scams easier to produce.”
Similar fraudulent schemes have also emerged globally, with deepfake videos impersonating figures like tech billionaire Elon Musk and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Aribowo noted that as the quality of deepfake videos improves, distinguishing between real and fake content is becoming increasingly challenging. His team is now working harder than ever to identify and debunk these scams before they spread further.
