Deepfake doctor scams expose growing threat of AI health fraud
KUALA LUMPUR: Consultant cardiologist Dr Onn Akbar Ali was disturbed when he discovered a deepfake video using his face and voice to promote herbal tea as a diabetes cure.
Deepfake technology is being used to create fraudulent health products in Malaysia, according to a consultant cardiologist who discovered a fake video using his likeness to promote an ineffective herbal tea. Dr Onn Akbar Ali warned that such scams could lead patients to rely on ineffective or potentially dangerous products, as seen when a cancer patient developed liver inflammation after purchasing a counterfeit supplement.
The Health Ministry has reported a rise in AI-generated impersonations, with the ministry conducting raids on unregistered supplements and counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Pharmacists have also reported an increase in AI-generated impersonations, with fraudsters using fake identities and accounts to appear legitimate. E-commerce platforms have measures in place to detect and remove counterfeit products, but experts suggest more stringent measures are needed, including third-party verification of licensed pharmacies.
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