Alert for forged documents generated by AI

Called OnlyFake, this service is creating a buzz among both cybercriminal networks and the press. It exploits ‘neural networks’ to produce high-quality fake images. See below for an example:

Today, the first thing we can say is that anyone can obtain fake documents instantly generated with advanced realism for just a few dollars. As identity documents are a necessity for setting up an account, applying for credit or even hiring a car, the areas in which these documents can be exploited are numerous. That’s why this topic has alerted our teams to their use in a wide range of illicit activities.

How does this service work?

The service is also available in the form of monthly subscriptions offering different packages.
Using generative adversarial networks (GANs), a form of Artificial Intelligence, developers can design a neural network that is optimised to fool another. The aim is to detect false generations. Here the interactions between the two networks allow them to evolve and improve in the manufacture and detection of fakes.
Another approach is to form a model based on the dissemination of a massive dataset on the one hand and real documents on the other. These models then synthesise extremely realistic images by training on vast datasets of specific elements. They learn to reproduce minute details that make forgeries virtually indistinguishable from genuine documents. These two approaches make it more difficult for potential investigators to detect forgeries on orders deemed suspicious.

In conclusion

The owner of OnlyFake, known as ‘John Wick’, has claimed that the documents they can generate are capable of bypassing KYC (Know Your Customer) checks on major cryptocurrency wallets such as Binance or even crypto-friendly neobank Revolut.

However, it claims that it has never produced false documents, which would be illegal.

According to its terms of use, the site’s models are intended solely for use in films, television programmes and illustrations on the Internet, which dissociates it from any illicit activity for which its service could be used. However, fraudsters and hackers could potentially exploit these fake documents to open accounts, particularly with banks, anonymously, thereby masking their true identities and complicating efforts to track down their activities. So be vigilant and equip yourself with the right tools to combat this type of false document.