The management of the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) has warned Filipinos about the proliferation of deepfake videos and audio recordings of its chairman, shipping magnate Enrique K. Razon Jr., and other officials.

The said manipulated video, which is making rounds over social media platforms, showed that Razon is promoting investment opportunities and luring netizens.

“These claims are entirely untrue. Neither Mr. Razon nor ICTSI has endorsed any such investments,” ICTSI said in a statement on Thursday.

Deepfakes are videos of a person in which their face or body has been digitally altered so that they appear to be someone else, typically used maliciously or to spread false information.

Further, the scam content is designed to appear convincing and may include offers that seem legitimate.

“ICTSI emphasizes that these are not authorized and are intended to mislead viewers,” the company said.

With this, ICTSI urged the public to exercise vigilance and to be cautious when engaging with online content that references ICTSI or the Razon Group; verify claims through ICTSI’s official channels; refrain from sharing personal or financial information with unfamiliar sources, and report suspicious content or impersonation attempts to the platform involved.

“For accurate information, visit ICTSI’s official website at www.ictsi.com or follow the company’s verified LinkedIn page. ICTSI appreciates the public’s continued vigilance,” ICTSI stated.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology earlier said that the Philippines has been active at the regional level in raising the need to tackle the threat posed by cybercriminals using deepfakes and generative AI (artificial intelligence) tools.

A ‘scamdemic’ using deepfake and generative AI tools is now causing huge losses in different countries, and the scourge must be addressed, according to the department.

Cybercriminals using deepfakes are pouring huge amounts of resources to perpetuate illicit activities on various platforms through scamming, phishing, ransomware, and more.

Deepfakes and generative AI tools are also threatening the electoral process when unscrupulous individuals use them for political gain, the DITC stressed.