Deepfake videos used in ethnic asset fraud and Indonesian presidential impersonation scams
Deepfake videos created with AI were used in fraud schemes in China and Indonesia. In China, synthetic media impersonated government officials for ethnic asset scams; in Indonesia, videos of President Prabowo Subianto promised government aid to deceive people into paying fees. Police in both countries arrested suspects and removed content from platforms.
What happened
In China, fraud networks used AI software to create fake images and videos impersonating government officials to promote ethnic asset thawing scams. The networks falsified government documents and used short video platforms for advertising, claiming to offer government welfare at designated locations.
In Indonesia, deepfake videos impersonating President Prabowo Subianto were spread on TikTok and other platforms beginning after his October 2024 inauguration. In the scam, the fake videos claimed the president was distributing aid, directing victims to WhatsApp to arrange transfers of 250,000 to 1 million Indonesian rupiah in supposed administrative fees. By February 2025, Indonesian police arrested two suspects, one of whom obtained 65 million Indonesian rupiah through the fraud.
Reported impact
Chinese authorities reported breaking 820 cases and dismantling over 400 criminal gangs in 2024, involving 12.7 billion yuan. Indonesian fact-checking organization Mafindo reported discovering new deepfake scam videos weekly, and law enforcement identified at least 22 TikTok accounts using the Prabowo impersonation method, with one account having over 77,000 followers and uploading 100 videos since January.
A 56-year-old Indonesian victim lost 200,000 rupiah after watching a deepfake video of an Indonesian businessman. Victims reported being contacted via WhatsApp and video calls that appeared to show direct communication, complicating detection of the deception.
Index analysis
Quality and sophistication of deepfake videos improved over time, making distinction between authentic and synthetic content increasingly difficult according to Mafindo. The volume of videos created obstacles for fact-checkers and platforms to address the problem at scale.
Fraud networks in both cases recruited personnel, engaged black market technical teams to develop apps and create synthetic media, and used social platforms for distribution and laundering operations. TikTok confirmed deletion of one deepfake video and related accounts but committed only to future removal of policy-violating content.
Governance controls
Chinese authorities conducted international police cooperation, deploying task forces to Singapore and Malaysia, resulting in dismantling of six overseas fraud dens and arrests of financiers. The ministry of public security announced plans for a new campaign targeting fraud gang bosses, mid-level personnel, and black market operatives across the full supply chain.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.