Even PM not spared, speech altered to promote investment scheme

Even Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has not been spared by scammers attempting to dupe Malaysians into joining dubious investment schemes.

This was revealed by Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching.

According to a Bernama report, she has instructed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to ask Meta to take down manipulated videos using artificial intelligence (AI) technology of Bernama TV news on Facebook accounts.

Teo (above) said she herself has sent the links to the fake news videos, which depict the faces of Bernama TV news anchors reading reports on dubious investment schemes, to the commission for further action.

"This is not the first time malicious individuals and scammers have used AI technology to create or produce such videos.

“A few months ago, I also noticed some parties using a video of Anwar, altering his speech to supposedly encourage the public to join an investment scheme.

"We cannot deny that AI technology has many benefits, but there are also risks when scammers use it for fraudulent purposes.

“Therefore, it is crucial when the public receives or sees videos like this, they file complaints with Meta or MCMC," she added.

Teo said this when interviewed before being a guest on "The Nation: Future of Media and Communications" programme by Bernama TV.

Last November, Federal CID director Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said an average of 15 new investment scam cases were investigated daily, which resulted in over RM360 million in losses for the victims.

Apart from investment scams, a United Nations report stated that employment scams have become so rampant in Malaysia that it is a “scamdemic”.

The country is also believed to be the location of scam centres, with international syndicates having set up operations here. - Mkini