Fraudsters Take ADVANTAGE Of Latest AI Technology For High Quality Fake ID Production

The fraudsters have used the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology to mass-print high-quality fake IDs in minutes. (photo: x @riversafe)

JAKARTA - Fraudsters have used the latest artificial intelligence (AI) technology to mass-print high-quality fake IDs in minutes.

Yoti, who provides a facial estimation system for supermarkets and pubs in the UK to examine users over the age of 18, said the counterfeiting was so'sophisticated' that it was difficult to detect.

The British company highlighted an underground website called Onlyfake that uses the technology behind chatbots to create'very convincing' AI IDs for just 12 pounds (IDR 240 thousand).

There are reports of as many as 20,000 productions per day, an investigation found that the fake ID was capable enough to bypass the strict verification system of online trading platforms.

Security experts say supermarkets, pubs and airports also need to be vigilant - warning that many of them are "very less prepared to face this threat".

Yoti uses advanced facial estimation technology to determine a person's age in 18 months with just an image with an accuracy of almost 100 percent.

The UK's major supermarkets - including Tesco, Asda, and Morrisons - have installed them at their self-service cashiers to ensure alcohol buyers over 18 years of age.

In his first annual Counterfeiting Identity Report, Yoti said his security center had recorded a significant increase in fake documents and fake attempts over the past year.

They say the scammers are increasingly taking advantage of this 'low fruit', where 'with little effort and low cost, one can draw up fake documents in a matter of minutes.'

Recent investigations have found an underground website called OnlyFake that prides that it produces 20,000 fake ID images every day, which is ready to be ordered 'fastly'.

At a price of 12 pounds, they provide AI photos of US driving licenses with names, biodata, addresses, expiration date, and signatures requested by reporters.

To make it look more real, AI is also setting up a carpet background to make it seem as if it was taken at the owner's house.

They then used it to make it through the strict verification process on crypto exchanges, which appeared in several court records due to its use by criminals.

On its Telegram account, the site boasts that it makes up to 20,000 documents a day - exacerbates concerns that this practice could channel banking fraud and money laundering.

"Generative AI is ready to trigger a huge wave of very effective fraud and the reality is that many organizations are very less prepared to face this threat," said Suid Adeyanju, CEO of cybersecurity firm RiverSafe.

"In the wrong hands, this technology will tell fraudsters the tools they need to accelerate criminal activity, falsify documents, including bank cards and passports," he added.

"Supermarkets, pubs, and airports all need to be aware of fake IDs that are very convincing and have the right tools and training to detect them," said Adeyanju.

Fake IDs can also pose a big risk when conducting background checks and jobs in sensitive industries that require security clarification, said Derek Macach, CEO of Investigo finance recruitment and technology specialists.

"Generative AI is a very dangerous tool in the hands of fraudsters. That's why it's so important for businesses of all sizes to arm themselves with the latest digital skills, to help recognize the potential of fraud and keep criminals away," he said.

Yoti said it had used advanced technology to protect against fraudsters, such as the 'liveness' feature, which ensures that people who verify themselves with selfies are actually there and not using printed or digital photos, videos, or masks.

The company says it also has a human team of 150'superindents' to rely on when its computer system cannot be fully sure, accompanied by a dedicated fraud team of 127.