Scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to exert psychological pressure on the families of Ukrainian soldiers, creating fake images and videos of supposedly captured defenders. The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War warns about this dangerous trend.
According to the headquarters, the number of fraudulent schemes has increased. Criminals take old photos and videos from open sources and, using AI, “transform” them into materials that are intended to create the impression that a soldier is in captivity. Such fakes are spread in messengers, social networks and closed communities, adding messages about “urgent help”, “ransom” or “exclusive information”.
The Coordination Headquarters emphasizes that no photos or videos can be evidence without professional verification, especially those that look “too recent”. Families are urged not to contact strangers who offer “help”, not to transfer personal data and not to send money.
In case of receiving suspicious materials, it is recommended to contact only authorized state bodies and official structures dealing with issues of prisoners of war. Prudence and verification of information remain the most effective protection against manipulation.
