Deepfake Scams: How AI Fakes Are Trick People and How to Stay Safe

When someone sounds exactly like your boss, your parent, or your bank manager—except they’re asking for money—you’re not hearing a coincidence. You’re likely hearing a deepfake scam, a type of fraud using artificial intelligence to create fake audio, video, or images that look and sound real. Also known as synthetic media, it’s not science fiction anymore—it’s happening right now, to real people, with real losses. These scams don’t need hackers breaking into systems. They just need a few seconds of your voice on a call, or a photo you posted online, and they can make you say or do things you never did.

How does it work? A voice cloning, a technique that copies a person’s speech patterns using just a short audio sample can mimic your grandfather’s tone and ask for a wire transfer. A facial manipulation, a method that swaps one person’s face onto another’s body in real-time video can make your friend appear to beg for help in a video call. These aren’t blurry fakes—they’re smooth, convincing, and often timed to hit when you’re distracted or emotional. Criminals target families, businesses, even government workers. One company lost $243,000 after a deepfake voice impersonated their CEO during a Zoom meeting. Another family sent $15,000 because a fake video showed their daughter in a car crash.

You can’t always tell the difference, but you can reduce your risk. Never send money based on a call or video unless you verify it another way—call back on a known number, text a pre-arranged code, or ask a personal question only the real person would know. Teach your family to do the same. If you get a strange request from someone you trust, pause. Slow down. Ask for proof. Scammers count on panic. The more you know, the harder it is for them to win.

Below, you’ll find real stories, practical tips, and clear breakdowns of how these scams operate—and how to keep yourself, your money, and your loved ones safe from them.