Warning: An executive at a UK energy company was deceived in 2019 by a cloned voice that sounded like the CEO. The scammer requested an urgent transfer of $243,000. The victim complied without verifying. Similar cases have been reported worldwide, with losses reaching millions of dollars.

Deepfakes are synthetic videos or audio created by artificial intelligence that replace a person's face or voice with another's. The term comes from combining "deep learning" and "fake." With increasingly accessible tools, anyone with a computer can create convincing content in minutes — and criminals are taking full advantage of this technology revolution.

In this guide, you'll understand how deepfakes are used in scams, what signs indicate a video or audio is fake, which tools help with detection, and what the legal landscape looks like for victims.

What Are Deepfakes?

Deepfakes use artificial neural networks trained with images or audio of a person to generate new content that appears authentic. To create a fake video, the algorithm needs dozens of hours of material from the target person. To clone a voice, just a few minutes of audio is sufficient — and in 2026, some tools can do it with as little as 30 seconds of audio.

Rapid evolution: In 2020, creating a quality deepfake required expensive equipment and technical knowledge. In 2026, free apps can clone voices with 30 seconds of audio and generate fake faces in real-time during video conferences, making the threat accessible to any bad actor.

How Deepfakes Are Used in Scams

1. Fake Video Calls

The scammer impersonates a family member, boss, or business partner in a video call. The victim "sees" the person and hears an identical voice. The request usually involves an urgent money transfer, sharing of sensitive data, or approval of transactions. The technology has advanced to the point where real-time deepfake video is possible during live calls.

Real Scenario:

A woman received a video call from her "son" asking for $50,000 to pay bail after an "accident." The face and voice seemed identical. She transferred the amount. Hours later, she discovered her son was at home, safe and sound. The video was a deepfake.

2. Voice Cloning

With just a few seconds of audio — from social media, podcasts, or public recordings — it's possible to create a synthetic voice that mimics someone perfectly. Scammers use this in phone calls or WhatsApp voice messages, making it nearly impossible to distinguish from the real person.

Beware of public audio: If you post videos or audio on social media, you're providing material for cloning. Scammers can use your content to create fake audio of you asking family members or colleagues for money.

3. Fake Celebrity Endorsements

Videos of "influencers" or celebrities promoting investments, cryptocurrencies, or products are common online. Many are deepfakes. The victim trusts the public figure and invests in fraudulent schemes, losing their money to operations that never existed.

How to Detect Deepfakes

No method is 100% infallible, but several signs help identify fake content:

Visual Signs in Videos

  1. Visual artifacts — Strange edges around the face, blotches or "ghosts" around hair and ears
  2. Lip desynchronization — Lips don't perfectly match the speech. Exaggerated or delayed movements
  3. Unnatural movements — Strange blinking, expressions that change abruptly
  4. Inconsistent lighting — The face may have shadows that don't match the background
  5. Irregular quality — The face may appear sharper or blurrier than the rest of the video

Signs in Cloned Audio

  1. Robotic or metallic tone — Synthetic voices may have strange resonance
  2. Breathing and pauses — Fake audio often lacks natural pauses or breathing
  3. Artificial emotion — The intonation may seem flat or exaggerated
  4. Background noise — May be inconsistent or nonexistent when it should be present
Safety word: Agree with family and colleagues on a secret word or phrase. In real emergency situations, the person should be able to say this word. If they can't, even if the video or audio seems legitimate, be suspicious. This simple measure can prevent devastating losses.

Deepfake Detection Tools

Several companies and researchers have developed detection tools:

  • Microsoft Video Authenticator — Analyzes videos and indicates manipulation probability
  • Sensity (formerly Deeptrace) — Detection platform used by companies and governments
  • InVID/WeVerify — Browser extension for verifying videos and images
  • Forensically — Online tool for image and metadata analysis
Limitations: Detection tools evolve, but deepfake creators also improve their techniques. The best defense remains human verification: call the person through another channel, ask for the safety word, or be suspicious of urgent money requests regardless of how convincing the video appears.

Protection Measures

Reduce your exposure and protect your identity:

  • Limit public content — Avoid posting long videos or audio that could be used for cloning
  • Configure privacy — Restrict who can see your publications on social networks
  • Family safety word — Agree with close relatives on a phrase for emergencies
  • Never transfer under pressure — Any urgent money request via video or audio should be confirmed through another channel
  • Verify the source — If you receive suspicious video or audio, call the person at the number you already have saved

Legal Implications

Using deepfakes for scams can be prosecuted under various laws depending on jurisdiction:

  • Fraud/Wire fraud — Obtaining money through deception
  • Identity theft — Using someone's likeness without consent
  • Defamation/Libel — If the deepfake is used to damage reputation
  • Computer fraud — Unauthorized access to data or systems
Data protection laws: The use of personal data (image, voice) to create deepfakes may violate GDPR, CCPA, and similar data protection laws globally. Victims can seek compensation and file reports with data protection authorities.

If you're a victim of a deepfake scam, file a police report, gather evidence (videos, audio, screenshots, receipts), and consult a lawyer. Technology advances, but the law still offers instruments for accountability. Share this article — awareness is the first line of defense against this threat.

CyberShield Desk

We are digital security specialists with over 10 years of experience. Our mission is to democratize knowledge about online protection and help regular people defend themselves from digital threats.