Video call scams
Video-call scams use deepfakes and 'digital arrest' setups: fake officials or familiar faces pressuring you to pay or share codes while you stay on the call.
How scams appear on Video call
Video-call scams add a face to the pressure. Deepfake video can imitate an executive authorising a transfer or a relative in distress, while 'digital arrest' setups feature fake officials who keep you on a long call and forbid you from telling anyone. You are pushed to pay or share codes 'to verify your identity' without leaving the call. Seeing a familiar face is exactly what disarms the usual caution.
Common Video call scam examples
Sanitised examples - placeholders only, never real links or data.
Example only: This is the cyber police - stay on the call and transfer to verify.
Example only: It's really me on video - send the money now.
Red flags on Video call
- A 'video call' from police or officials demanding payment
- A familiar face making an urgent money request
- Pressure to stay on the call and not tell anyone
- Requests to verify identity by paying or sharing codes
How to verify safely
- No real authority interrogates or arrests you over a video call.
- Verify a relative's request with a call-back to a known number.
- Seeing a face on video is no longer proof of identity.
How to report inside Video call
- End the call and verify through official channels you look up.
- Confirm a relative's request with a call-back to a known number.
- Never transfer money to 'prove innocence' on a video call.
How to protect your Video call account
- Agree a family 'secret word' to confirm emergencies.
- End suspicious calls and verify through official channels.
- Be cautious sharing your face/voice with unknown contacts.
Related Video call scam messages you can check
- Is this fake police digital arrest message a scam?
- Is this fake customs parcel crime call a scam?
- Is this fake deepfake video call scam a scam?
- Is this deepfake CEO wire transfer message a scam?
Related scam-type hubs
Related red flags
Glossary terms
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Check it to see the specific red flags and what to do next.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a Video call message is a scam?
Check it against the red flags above and verify through the official app or website you open yourself. When in doubt, don't click, pay, or share codes.
How do I report a scam on Video call?
End the call and verify through official channels you look up.
Last reviewed: 2026-06-15.