Santander has created a series of deepfake videos to warn people how realistic they already are and highlight the threat from fraudsters. The bank, which has a branch in Bolton ., is placing the videos, depicting its fraud lead Chris Ainsley and influencer Timi Merriman-Johnson – also known as @mrmoneyjar, on social media to help raise awareness.
In one of the videos, Mr Ainsley appears to say: “Fo r scammers, it is a powerful tool they can use to steal your money.” He goes on to list the tell-tale signs of a potential deepfake, saying: “Look for blurring around the mouth. The person might blink less frequently than usual.
“If they are wearing glasses, the light reflections might not look right. The background may not feel natural. If something looks strange, trust your instincts.
” The video shows Mr Ainsley saying HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and banks are often impersonated. He adds: “I’ve even been impersonated myself. This video is just the latest example.
As you might have guessed, this isn’t me, this is a deepfake, created to warn you about deepfakes.” He adds that people should consider whether a video was received from a reliable source and whether it is asking for money. “If they are asking for money, that’s a big red flag,” he adds.
The video depicting Mr Merriman-Johnson meanwhile purports to offer an “incredible investment opportunity”. The real Mr Merriman-Johnson then says: “That definitely wasn’t me. That was a deepfake video,.