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TECH AND INNOVATION
increase the speed, scale and sophistication of online scams.
With AI, threat actors can target more victims or companies across international and language barriers. The deployment of deepfake images and videos is increasing the difficulty of fraud detection.
“ The use of AI to facilitate fraud underscores the need for private industries, law enforcement and the public to all take steps to reduce the threat. The UK’ s Online Safety Act puts more onus on the online platforms to take action and we are continuing to work with government and regulators to maximise its impact,” the NCA told iGB in a statement.
The UK’ s 2023 Online Safety Act set out rules to curb online fraud. Service providers have been asked to introduce measures that tackle fraud and terrorism.
These include explanations of how they undertake account verification, as well as the inclusion of automatic detection software that finds and removes advertisements or posts that are linked to the sale of stolen credentials or faked credentials.
OPERATORS NEED TO REFRESH AML PROCESSES With the growing sophistication of the AI threat, operators need to keep up to date with best practices and technological innovations. Operators can enhance AI-based document checks with biometrics such as facial verification and liveness detection checks. The use of device fingerprinting and geolocation services would also increase detection rates.
Additionally, machine learning applied correctly could identify inconsistencies in player activity
“ High-quality defences require significant investment and many operators are using the same class of AI tools for verification that fraudsters are using to attack them”
Dr Michaela MacDonald, Queen Mary University
“ If you just ask for proof of funds when you don’ t actually have the staff, experience and the tooling to check that it’ s a legitimate bank and that everything looks right with it, you are, for sure, exposed”
Mick d’ Ancona, Circle Squared that may give an additional layer of security.
Queen Mary University lecturer MacDonald tells iGB there are several technologies emerging which will help detect synthetic identities and manipulated materials. These include end-to-end orchestration, data intelligence and artificial intelligence.
“ These tools work together to centralise verification processes, analyse large datasets for subtle inconsistencies and leverage machine learning to detect evolving fraud patterns with greater accuracy and speed,” says MacDonald.
“ However, implementation varies widely. High-quality defences require significant investment and many operators are using the same class of AI tools for verification that fraudsters are using to attack them.”
FRAUD AND GAMBLING ARE OLD ENEMIES The gambling sector has always been a ripe target for manipulated documents and fraudulent activity. There has been a constant arms race between operators and fraudsters trying to get one past security systems.
Gambling industry expert and Circle Squared consultant Mick d’ Ancona tells iGB operators have dealt with dodgy documentation from players for years.
“ All that’ s happening now is it’ s easier to [ fake documents required by operators ]. But actually, if you’ re a good operator and you’ re [ processing documents ] properly, you’ ve got what you need in place already,” d’ Ancona says.
However, he believes it won’ t be cheap to mitigate the risk of fake documentation, as fraud gets more
14 • ISSUE 138 • iGB L! VE 2025