"Beware: Real-Time Deepfake Romance Scams"

Scammers known as Yahoo Boys are using deepfake technology to conduct real-time video calls in romance scams, altering their appearance to build trust with victims before tricking them into parting with thousands of dollars. The scammers openly brag about their activities on social media platforms like Telegram, where they organize and advertise their skills for various scams, including business email compromise and impersonation scams. The use of deepfakes in romance scams has been increasing, with scammers using face-swapping software on phones and laptops to create convincing fake personas. As the technology behind deepfakes continues to improve, the potential for more sophisticated and convincing scams grows, posing a significant challenge for cybersecurity experts.