There was a time when seeing someone on a video call or hearing a familiar voice on the phone was enough to know who you were talking to. That time is over. Artificial intelligence has made it possible to generate convincing audio and video of real people saying and doing things they never said or did. These are called deepfakes, and scammers are using them to impersonate people you know and trust.
What Is a Deepfake?
A deepfake is a piece of audio or video content created or manipulated using artificial intelligence to make it appear that a real person said or did something they didn’t. The technology has advanced rapidly and is now accessible enough that scammers don’t need sophisticated equipment or expertise to use it. A few seconds of someone’s voice pulled from a social media video can be enough to generate a convincing clone. A handful of photos can be used to create a realistic fake video.
How Scammers Are Using Them
Deepfakes show up in fraud in several ways. A scammer may use a cloned voice to impersonate a family member in distress, a bank representative, or even a company executive. In video scams, a fraudster may use a manipulated image on a video call to appear as someone the victim recognizes and trusts. Fake videos of public figures have also been used to promote fraudulent investment schemes, making them appear to be endorsed by someone credible.
The goal is always the same: manufacture enough trust to get you to send money, share personal information, or take an action you wouldn’t otherwise take.
Why It’s So Hard to Detect
The most unsettling thing about deepfake fraud is that your instincts can work against you. If you hear a voice that sounds like your banker or see a face that looks like someone you know, your brain fills in the rest. Scammers know this. They are counting on the fraction of a second it takes you to recognize something familiar, and they are using that moment to their advantage.
Quality varies, and there are sometimes tells, a slight unnatural quality to the voice, lips that don’t quite sync with the audio, or lighting that looks slightly off. But as the technology improves, these imperfections are becoming harder to spot.
How to Protect Yourself
- Verify through a separate channel. If you receive a call, text, or video from someone asking for money or personal information, hang up and contact that person directly using a number or method you already have. Do not use contact information provided in the suspicious message.
- Establish a code word with family members. A simple, private word known only to your family can serve as a quick verification tool if you ever receive a suspicious call claiming to be from a loved one.
- Be skeptical of urgency. Deepfake scams almost always involve pressure to act immediately. Slowing down is your most effective defense.
- Question unexpected requests. Even if someone looks or sounds exactly like a person you trust, an unusual request for money or sensitive information should always be verified independently.
- Trust your instincts. If something feels slightly off about a call or video, even if you can’t identify exactly what, that feeling is worth paying attention to.
If You Think You’ve Been Targeted
Act quickly! Contact F&M Bank immediately if any financial information was shared or a payment was made. Report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to your local law enforcement.
If you have any questions or think you may be a victim of fraud, please contact us or visit your nearest F&M Bank office. We’re here to help.