Indonesians Duped by Scams Using Deepfake Videos of President Prabowo

JAKARTA, 2 March 2025 (BSS/AFP) – A deepfake video featuring Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been at the centre of a nationwide scam, deceiving unsuspecting citizens into handing over their money under false promises of financial aid.

In the video, Prabowo appears in a traditional Indonesian black hat and shirt, addressing the public via Instagram. “Who has not received aid from me? What are your needs right now?” he seemingly asks, creating the illusion of a generous government handout.

However, while the footage shows Prabowo’s mouth moving and his eyes blinking naturally, the words he speaks are entirely fabricated. The clip, which circulated widely from November 2024, is part of a fraudulent deepfake scam exposed by Indonesian police last month. The hoax has tricked people across 20 provinces into paying between 250,000 and one million rupiah (£12-£50) in “administrative fees” for non-existent aid.

The Rise of Deepfake Scams in Indonesia

Since last year’s presidential election, experts have been warning of an explosion of deepfakes, using AI-generated audio, images, and videos to mimic real-life figures. While these have previously been used for political disinformation, scammers are now exploiting them for financial gain.

Victims of the hoax say the quality of these deepfakes is alarmingly convincing, making it easy for more people to fall for such tricks.

“People should be more careful. Don’t be easily fooled by the lure of prizes,” warned Aryani, 56, who lost 200,000 rupiah (£10) after believing she was communicating with a well-known Indonesian businessman.

“I needed money, but instead, they asked me to send money. They even made video calls with me, as if I were talking directly to them,” she added, highlighting how sophisticated the deception had become.

Authorities Take Action, But Scams Persist

Police have already arrested one suspect, who pocketed 65 million rupiah (£3,300) from the scam, according to Himawan Bayu Aji, director of the Indonesian National Cyber Crime Unit. Another suspect was detained for a separate deepfake scam, but authorities have yet to disclose the total amount defrauded.

However, AFP Fact Check’s investigation revealed that the scam has spread much further than the two accounts initially reported by police. Fake deepfake videos of Prabowo remain widely available on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, with some accounts still promoting the fraudulent scheme under hashtags like #PrabowoSharesBlessings.

At least 22 TikTok accounts have been found pushing the scam since Prabowo assumed office in October 2024. One account, with over 77,000 followers, racked up an astonishing 7.5 million views on a fabricated video of Prabowo supposedly distributing financial assistance. Another account, sharing over 100 videos since January, has repeatedly used deepfake videos of Prabowo to deceive users into handing over money.

In response, TikTok stated that it had removed one of the fraudulent deepfake videos and the associated account. The platform also reaffirmed its commitment to removing any content that violated its community guidelines, which prohibit misleading posts. However, Facebook parent company Meta has yet to respond to AFP’s request for comment.

Deepfake Technology Becoming More Accessible

The increasing accessibility and affordability of AI-powered tools have enabled scammers to create higher-quality deepfakes with ease.

Aribowo Sasmito, co-founder of Indonesian fact-checking group Mafindo, says his team now uncovers new deepfake scams every week.

“We have started to see deepfake videos since last year as AI tools have become more accessible and affordable,” Sasmito told AFP.

He added that the quality of these scams is improving, making it harder to tell real from fake. “It has become more difficult to distinguish between fake and real videos. The challenge is the sheer volume of these scams.”

Global Surge in AI-Driven Scams

Indonesia is not the only country grappling with AI-generated fraud. High-profile individuals, including Elon Musk and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have been targeted in similar deepfake cash scams in recent years.

With AI technology continuing to advance, concerns are growing over how governments, tech companies, and law enforcement agencies can combat the misuse of deepfakes. Experts warn that without stronger regulations and public awareness campaigns, deepfake-driven scams will only increase in sophistication and scale.