Hong Kong police have reported a surge in WhatsApp account hijackings, with 150 cases recorded in the past two weeks, resulting in total losses of over HK$26 million. According to News - South China Morning Post, the hijackings involved fraudsters using artificial intelligence (AI) to imitate loved ones after compromising their accounts. This has led to a significant financial loss for the victims, with one case resulting in a loss of HK$10 million.
The police's Cyberdefender platform has warned residents against trusting voice messages blindly, as fraudsters are using AI to impersonate family members and friends. The losses have been substantial, with the total amount exceeding HK$26 million, and the police are urging people to be cautious when receiving voice messages from unknown or familiar numbers. The use of AI in these scams has made it difficult for victims to distinguish between genuine and fake messages.
The incident highlights the growing concern of AI-powered scams and the need for increased awareness and caution when using digital platforms. The use of AI in these scams has raised concerns about the vulnerability of digital communication systems.