Deepfakes & Scams: How do we protect our communities?

According to Bogdan Botezatu, a cyber crime busting professional based in Romania, the scamming industry is a $9 trillion, sophisticated and organized to successfully steal money from lonely seniors, vulnerable youth, impressionable children, while trapping women to dilute their authenticity. Those scam calls about resumes and stranded grandchildren, fake text messages about a UPS package that cannot be delivered and phishing emails from criminals are meant to intentionally harm, targeting the vulnerable and the innocent.

The StarTalk interview with Bogdan, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Chuck Nice, and Garry O'Rielly, underscores the extensive reach and impact of this curse affecting the innocent and vulnerable.

Here is the interview:

The key strategy for addressing this issue is education - systematic and strategic education at every level has been identified as a critical solution. This is essential. However, eduction is only half the solution. The know-how of raising critical questions augment the education. one without the other is only half the solution!

Raising critical questions and identifying strategies to verify the information requires exposure and training. Identifying a deep fake, recognizing a fraudulent call, responding to a fake email, and identifying red flags are skills that industry experts acknowledge are fundamental to stemming the tide of this menace but how can these soft skills be aquired? Schools are overburdened, public education is minimal and community centers lack funding. Our communities remain woefully ignorant. Meanwhile, criminals are investing billions into the scamming industry. Two concepts used in the video are 'pig-fattening' (the bad guys) and 'honey pot' (the good guys). While 'pig-fattening' is transitioning to ever more sophisticated strategies, the 'honey-pot' will continue to dismantle them but in the meantime, vulnerable and innocent people run the risk of becoming victims.

To bridge this gap, the Ackermann-Froebel Enrichment Program (AFEP) has purposefully created a module delivered through innovative projects for children, youth, women, and seniors aimed at instilling a mindset that naturally prompts relevant and critical questioning before taking action or responding. The AFEP strives to stay ahead of this contemprary and emergent threat, ensuring that our participants can safeguard themselves and their families.

The program will also invite law enforcement agencies and other community stakeholders to provide talks and workshops with the objective of providing our participants with the maximum skills they need to stem the tide.