BAHRAIN is working on contingency plans to combat scammers who could exploit sophisticated artificial intelligence (AI) tools to trick people into sending them money.
While such frauds are being reported across the world, no cases have been registered in Bahrain yet, Interior Ministry financial crimes department head Major Mohammed Al Abdulla said.
However, officials are on alert and are bracing themselves to tackle such cybercrimes effectively, he added.
Speaking to the GDN on the sidelines of a cybersecurity forum ‘Cyber Frauds: Methods and Prevention’, held at the Abdelrahman Kanoo Cultural Centre in Riffa, Maj Al Abdulla said officers were always keeping themselves updated about scams happening globally.
“By understanding how con artists operate, we can ensure preparedness and develop contingency plans just in case we get reports of such scams happening in Bahrain,” he said.
The GDN reported last month that there have been 1,314 criminal cases related to misuse of telecommunications and 753 related to the misuse of social media over the past year. Of the social media cases, 388 involved WhatsApp, 184 were on Instagram, 54 on Snapchat, 51 on TikTok, 51 on Facebook and 25 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Maj Al Abdulla explained that most scammers operate outside the kingdom through a middleman who carefully deduces the best way to con people in the country out of their hard-earned money.
“They operate as part of a group, through call centres based in different parts of the world,” he said.
“The group will have at least one person based in Bahrain, who will study what programmes and applications citizens and expatriates are using, and will look at how to utilise them to their advantage.
“For example, there are an estimated 900,000 people in the kingdom who use BenefitPay, which is why so many scams are centred on the platform.”
The speed of technological development, the falling costs of generative AI programmes and the wide availability of recordings of people’s voices on various social media platforms have created the perfect conditions for voice-related AI scams globally.
Most prominent among them is deepfake technology – software that allows people to swap faces, voices and other characteristics – that is being used for digital forgeries, cyberbullying and blackmailing victims. Activists, legislators and cybersecurity experts across the world are calling for stronger legal protections against it.
In deepfakes, AI is used to put together fake videos where a well-respected individual seemingly encourages people to invest in a non-existent business opportunity.
“The AI programme takes video clips and images of certain people and puts together a fake video, where it seems like they are saying something they never did,” Maj Al Abdulla said.
“They put the head of a reputed individual on another body, and use AI to mimic their voice, telling people who view these adverts about a so-called investment opportunity. People who are caught unawares, click on the link embedded in the advert, enter their private information, and see their money stolen.”
He also highlighted another scam that exploits QR code menus now commonplace in restaurants across the world.
“Scammers make a website with a ‘menu’ and the option to pay from your seat instead of in person,” Maj Al Abdulla said.
“They then turn it into a QR code and print them as stickers, putting them on tables in small restaurants or coffee shops with minimal security and staff.
“The customer scans the code, thinking it belongs to the outlet, since QR code menus are becoming more commonplace. They enter their bank information, oblivious to the fact that the restaurant has nothing to do with the website, and the scammers use it to take money from their account.”
Maj Al Abdulla reiterated that such scams have not been reported in Bahrain yet, while highlighting that the ministry was monitoring such methods abroad.
“We are always prepared,” he said.
“Whenever a new scam is confirmed in the country, we will notify members of the public on social media and on the Financial and Cyber Crimes WhatsApp group.
“I urge people to join the group, which is available through a link on our Instagram bio @acees_bh in both English and Arabic.
“We will also hold campaigns to educate citizens and residents, if necessary.”
People can report potential scammers to the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security either by dialling 992 or by contacting them on WhatsApp at 17108108.
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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