What is the danger?
AI can now clone a person’s voice from a few seconds of audio and generate a realistic video of their face in real time. Criminals use this to impersonate family members, bosses and public figures, and to steal money, data and trust at a scale that was impossible a few years ago.
How it happens
- A short clip from social media is enough to clone a voice.
- Live face-swap tools let a scammer appear as someone else on a video call.
- Fake “emergency” calls from a loved one pressure victims to send money fast.
- Fake videos of celebrities and officials promote investment and crypto scams.
- Deepfake candidates pass remote job interviews to get inside companies.
Real cases
An employee of the engineering firm Arup in Hong Kong transferred about US$25 million after a video call in which every other “colleague”, including the CFO, was a deepfake (2024).
Source: CNN ↗In its 2025 annual report, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center logged 22,364 complaints involving AI, with nearly $893 million in reported losses.
Source: FBI IC3 2025 report ↗In a Commonwealth Bank study, 89% of Australians believed they could spot an AI deepfake scam — but only 42% could when tested.
Source: Commonwealth Bank ↗
Warning signs
- Extreme urgency and secrecy (“don’t tell anyone, send it now”).
- Requests for gift cards, crypto or unusual transfers.
- A familiar voice that avoids personal questions only the real person would know.
- Video where lighting, lips or edges of the face look slightly off.
What you can do
- Agree on a family “safe word” for emergencies.
- Hang up and call back on a number you already know.
- At work, never approve payments based on a call or video alone — confirm through a second channel.
- Limit public audio and video of yourself where possible.
In-depth guide
How to Spot a Deepfake
How to spot deepfake images, videos and cloned voices — the visual clues that still work, the ones that no longer do, and the checks that actually protect you.
Read the guide →In-depth guide
How to Protect Yourself From AI Voice-Cloning Scams
Scammers can now clone a loved one’s voice from a few seconds of audio. How AI voice-cloning scams work, the warning signs, and simple steps that protect your family and your money.
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
What is the danger of deepfakes in AI?
AI can now clone a person’s voice from a few seconds of audio and generate a realistic video of their face in real time. Criminals use this to impersonate family members, bosses and public figures, and to steal money, data and trust at a scale that was impossible a few years ago.
How does it happen?
A short clip from social media is enough to clone a voice. Live face-swap tools let a scammer appear as someone else on a video call. Fake “emergency” calls from a loved one pressure victims to send money fast. Fake videos of celebrities and officials promote investment and crypto scams. Deepfake candidates pass remote job interviews to get inside companies.
How can I protect myself?
Agree on a family “safe word” for emergencies. Hang up and call back on a number you already know. At work, never approve payments based on a call or video alone — confirm through a second channel. Limit public audio and video of yourself where possible.
Latest updates on deepfakes
Deepfake Watchlist: new incidents from the week of September 18–24
A weekly roundup of newly reported deepfake incidents — impersonation scams, fake media and the responses to them — showing how quickly AI-generated fraud keeps spreading.
Manhattan prosecutors seize 12 deepfake porn sites targeting about 1,200 people
The Manhattan District Attorney seized the domains of 12 websites selling AI-generated sexual deepfakes made without consent. About 1,200 real people were depicted, mostly women in public life — a sign of how cheap and widespread abusive deepfakes have become.
What do you think?
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