In the popular TV show The Trident 2 on Dragon TV, the character played by actor Chen Jianbin, Cui Tiejun, is a seasoned, upright police officer. Meanwhile, he also embraces the times and fully utilizes new media platforms, becoming an “anti-fraud internet celebrity.” Cui Tiejun uses sharp language, professional knowledge, and vivid case studies to conduct anti-fraud advocacy online, revealing various scam tactics and reminding the public to stay vigilant. His short videos and live-streamed lectures have become widely circulated, effectively raising the public's awareness about fraud, making him a true “internet celebrity cop” in the show.

As the saying goes, "fame brings controversy." Cui Tiejun’s growing online influence soon caught the attention of criminals. In The Trident 2, the Anti-Fraud Center suddenly receives a report from the public. The reporter claimed they had received a phone call from someone pretending to be “Cui Tiejun.” The voice on the phone sounded exactly like the anti-fraud internet celebrity. The impersonated “Cui Tiejun” used various reasons to persuade the victim to make a transfer. At first, the victim was suspicious, but when they heard the familiar voice of “Cui Tiejun” and his professional explanation of anti-fraud knowledge, they gradually relaxed their guard and eventually transferred their hard-earned savings to the account provided by the scammer.

Furious, Cui Tiejun decided to call the scammer himself to confront the imposter. Upon answering the call, he was shocked and enraged to hear a voice on the other end that was exactly like his own! The scammer had used AI technology to perfectly clone his voice, even mimicking his speaking habits with incredible precision.

What was even more infuriating was that the fake “Cui Tiejun” on the other end showed no remorse and even taunted the real Cui Tiejun for his “internet celebrity” status. The imposter even boasted about using his fame to carry out more fraud. Faced with such bold provocation, Cui Tiejun was filled with rage but also felt a deep sense of helplessness. He realized that the criminals behind this were not just ordinary fraudsters, but highly sophisticated criminals armed with advanced technology, making them more cunning and difficult to deal with.

This “AI Impersonation Scam” story in The Trident 2 is not just a simple case; it reflects the harsh reality that new forms of criminal tactics are constantly emerging in the age of rapid technological advancement. While AI technology brings convenience to society, it is also exploited by criminals as a tool for crime. AI voice cloning and deepfake technologies provide new “weapons” for fraudsters, making their tactics more covert and harder to defend against.

How to Effectively Prevent Impersonation Scams by Celebrities?

In these new forms of telecom fraud, scammers use AI-generated realistic audio and video, making it extremely difficult for victims to identify abnormalities through their intuition. Therefore, even when verifying the identity of the person over the phone or through video, it is crucial to take multiple steps to confirm the identity, especially when it involves financial transactions, to avoid making hasty decisions and falling for the scam. Dingxiang Defense Cloud Business Security Intelligence Center recommends that the public increase vigilance and adopt multi-layered verification measures.

1. Call Back to Verify Identity: Hang up the incoming call and contact the person again using a reliable method you already know (e.g., a phone number saved in your contact list or a contact from the official website). Do not contact the number provided by the caller again, as the scammer may use a spoofed caller ID.

2. Consult Friends and Family: If you receive a phone call or message asking you to donate or transfer money, check with your friends and family to see if they have received similar requests or if such an event has occurred. If you are unsure, ask them to help verify the situation.

3. Increase Awareness of AI Forged Technologies: When receiving a call, even if the voice sounds familiar, if there are inconsistencies in tone, speech fluency, or emotional expression, you should immediately be suspicious. AI-generated voices may lack certain details, such as tone variations and emotional authenticity.

4. Report to Authorities: Dial the local emergency number and report the fraud in detail to the police.

These preventive measures can help individuals resist the threat of AI fraud and remind everyone to stay calm and vigilant when facing urgent financial requests, avoiding falling into the trap set by criminals.