An archive photo
MINSK 31 January (BelTA) – A wave of hoaxes has been detected online, with perpetrators employing both counterfeit documents and deepfake technology to deceive the audience, BelTA learned from the press service of the Finance Ministry.
Videos are being circulated that combine authentic archival footage of officials, including Belarus’ Ambassador to Russia and former Finance Minister Yuri Seliverstov, with a fabricated voiceover containing misleading statements. “Naturally, these [statements] have nothing to do with the actual position of the officials or the state policy of the Republic of Belarus,” the press service warns.
Fraudsters are also distributing a fabricated “document” about an alleged “joint investment” in natural resources by the Finance Ministry and Gazprom Transgaz Belarus.
“This is also a lie: the creators of this falsehood are unfamiliar with document formatting standards and even the correct official name of our country. Remain vigilant, do not trust unreliable sources, and always check information through official channels,” the press service warned.
Deepfakes often exhibit telltale signs, including unnatural facial movements, a lack of synchronization between lips and audio, a flat or synthetic-sounding voice, and distribution through unverified sources like obscure channels or automated bots.
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