Scammers made off with about $25 million after they used deepfake technology to trick an employee at the Hong Kong branch of a multinational company, local media reported on Sunday, citing the city's police.
The employee then had a video call with the company's CFO and other company employees — all of which turned out to be deepfakes.
Based on instructions they got during that call, the employee transferred HK$200 million, or $25.6 million, to various Hong Kong bank accounts across 15 transfers, according to the SCMP.
AdvertisementThe Hong Kong police did not name the company or employees involved.
The employee who was scammed did not interact with the deepfakes during the video conference, according to the media outlet.
Persons:
Scammers, scammers, scammed, Taylor Swift, Joseph Morelle
Organizations:
South China Morning Post, HK, Hong Kong, Democratic
Locations:
Hong Kong, South China