Deepfake is a technology invented in 2014 by Ian Goodfellow, a Ph.D. student who works at Apple. Most deepfake technology is based on generative adversarial networks. These enable algorithms to move beyond classifying data and into generating images. The technology tries to fool us into thinking a fake image is real.

So why should we care? Because when we look at an online video, we now have to wonder whether what we are seeing is real. Celebrities have been targeted by a site called Deepnudes, a pornographic website that superimposes faces of real women on pornographic video content. The founders ultimately took the site down.

Deepfakes are lies made to look like truths. If people see an online video and assume it is true when it is not, false conclusions with disastrous consequences could occur.

Deepfakes have invaded the political realm. Candidates have been made to look drunk or otherwise misbehaving to make them look bad. Such deepfakes put companies, individuals and governments at increased risk of manipulation.

What are the solutions? The U.S. House of Representatives’ Intelligence Committee sent a letter to Twitter, Facebook and Google asking how they planned to combat deepfakes in the 2020 elections. Earlier this year, Congress asked the Director of National Intelligence to provide a formal report on deepfake technology. These inquiries demonstrate just how out of control technology can become.

Many are calling for social-media companies to develop techniques to detect and prevent the spread of deepfakes and to be held accountable. In the interim, the best way for consumers to protect against a deepfake is to be skeptical of video and not simply accept it at face value. Be careful about what you share on social media: Be sure you’re not sharing a deepfake.

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Unclaimed property scams

A Coeur d’Alene reader received an official-looking letter informing him of unclaimed property. The unsolicited letter requested his Social Security number, address, date of birth and email address — the precise information needed to try to steal someone’s identity.

The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, which represents state officials charged with managing unclaimed stuff, says some third-party service providers are legitimate. They charge up to 40% of the value of the unclaimed property. But there are also plenty of scammers out to get your personal information to steal your identity.

Avoid the hassle: You can check for unclaimed property in your name for free.

Unclaimed property is cash or other financial assets considered lost or abandoned when an owner can’t be found after a period of time. The most likely assets are dormant savings accounts, CDs and life insurance payments. In the state of Idaho alone, the unclaimed property that has been paid out to claimants since Jan. 1, 2019 is $3.87 million.

The treasurer, comptroller or auditor of each state maintains a list of abandoned property and runs an online database that anyone can search. Search in Idaho at yourmoney.idaho.gov. You search by your first name, last name, city and ZIP code. If you want to do a search for other states you have lived check www.unclaimed.org, www.MissingMoney.com, or contact the states treasurer’s office in every state where you have lived.

My advice: Skip the middleman.

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Credit-card insurance

Be wary of salespeople trying to sell credit-card protection coverage — typically for $200 to $300 — because this insurance is unnecessary. These operators usually use a pitch that falsely claims that cardholders will face significant financial risk if their cards are misused. The Federal Trade Commission says more than 3 million consumers have purchased this unnecessary insurance to prevent unauthorized use on our credit cards.

In reality, as consumers we are already protected from fraudulent and unauthorized charges that are made. Federal law limits the liability of card holders to $50; however, if just the credit card account number itself is stolen, the law guarantees that the cardholder will have a zero liability. Also, many credit card companies have adopted zero liability and no longer hold the cardholder responsible for the first $50. Check your card’s terms and conditions to see if your card issuer has a zero liability clause.

If you believe your card has been stolen or someone has used it without your authorization, notify the card issuer immediately. Also it’s a good idea to monitor your statements to make sure there are no unauthorized charges on your card. Often small charges show up on credit cards because a crook is hoping the cardholder won’t notice.

Bottom line: Credit card protection insurance is unnecessary due to the protections currently in place.

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If you have encountered a consumer issue that you have questions about or think our readers should know about, please email terridickersonadvocate@gmail.com or call me at 208-274-4458.