KUCHING – Sarawak Deputy Premier Dr Sim Kui Hian has issued a stern warning to the public about a recent scam involving a deepfake video that uses his image and voice. In a post on his verified Facebook page, Dr Sim exposed the fraudulent activity, which also features Malaysian singer Jaclyn Victor’s likeness, falsely promoting a “new formula” to cure arthritis.
The deepfake video, hosted by a Facebook account named Ilike Fitness, mimics Dr Sim and Jaclyn Victor endorsing a fake medical treatment. Dr Sim clarified that this fictitious formula is not only promoting false medical claims but also scamming people into spending money on potentially harmful products.
“This is a scam. The deepfake video uses AI to clone my voice and image, pulling footage from an old interview I did with TVS back in 2020,” Dr Sim stated. He also shared a link to the original interview on YouTube to debunk the claims.
The Deputy Premier emphasized the dangers of such scams, highlighting how AI technology is being misused to manipulate public trust. “Let’s stay vigilant in this era of AI and social media,” he urged.
This alarming incident underscores the increasing sophistication of scammers leveraging advanced technology to deceive the public. Dr Sim reminded everyone to be cautious and to verify the authenticity of content they encounter online, particularly when it involves sensitive issues like health and medicine.
Authorities and the public are encouraged to report such fraudulent activities to prevent further harm.
