AI impersonations could land Australians with debts they never incurred
Former Google executive Richard Mallam has warned that criminals can use AI to build digital impersonations from people’s social media images, leaked personal details and short voice recordings. These fake identities could be used to apply for loans, credit cards, vehicle leases and other services, leaving victims to discover the fraud only when bills or debt notices arrive.
Mallam said banks and superannuation funds were receiving thousands of fraudulent calls each week from AI bots attempting to take over customer accounts. He warned that scammers can reach far more people at once with AI, and urged Australians not to engage with suspected scammers by phone because recordings of their voices could be misused. He also said government services such as Medicare and the tax office may be attractive targets because they hold sensitive information.
In short
- AI can help criminals create convincing digital identities.
- Stolen identities may be used to take out loans or credit.
- Victims could discover the fraud when bills arrive.
Explained simply
Identity fraud happens when someone uses another person’s details to pretend to be them, often to open accounts or obtain services. Personal information and photos shared online, details exposed in data leaks, and recordings of someone’s voice can all help criminals make an impersonation seem convincing.
Banks, superannuation funds, government agencies and businesses that provide credit or leases may be targets because they hold personal or financial information. If an account or service is opened fraudulently, the person whose identity was used may first learn of it through an unexpected bill or debt notice.
AI tools can help scammers create convincing messages and impersonations and contact many people quickly. That makes it harder for organisations and individuals to distinguish genuine requests from fraudulent ones, with potential consequences for victims’ finances and access to services.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “The terrifying new AI scam that could leave Australians thousands of dollars in debt: How criminals can steal your face to create a digital twin – and you may not know until the bills arrive”.