AI & deepfake scams
AI and deepfake scams use cloned voices and faces to impersonate relatives in 'emergencies', executives authorising payments, or officials. As AI removes old tells like poor grammar, independent verification matters more than ever.
Last reviewed 2026-06-15.
How these scams usually work
AI scams take familiar cons and make them more convincing. A short clip of someone's voice, taken from social media, is enough to clone it for a panicked 'family emergency' call asking for money. Deepfake video can imitate an executive on a call authorising a transfer, or a romantic contact who never quite meets in person. Because AI removes older tells like clumsy grammar or an odd accent, the message itself looks and sounds right. The defence shifts from spotting mistakes to verifying independently through a separate, trusted channel.
What the scammers want
- Fast transfers
- Panic and secrecy
- Authorised payments
Common red flags
What to do
- Call the person back on a known number.
- Agree a family safe word.
- Verify any executive payment request separately.
What not to do
- Do not act on a voice/video call alone.
- Do not keep it secret.
- Do not trust caller ID.
Common scam messages in this category
Top scam types
Related trend reports
- Scam Trends in 2025: AI-Assisted Fraud, Government Imposters and Digital Arrests
- Scam Trends in 2026: AI-Driven, Emotion-Engineered and Multi-Channel Fraud
- Future Scam Trends 2026–2028: Likely Trends and Emerging Risks
If you were affected
See our recovery guides and report through official channels via the reporting directory. Be wary of anyone offering to recover lost money for an upfront fee.
Official sources checked
- FBI IC3 - Senior US officials impersonated in malicious messaging campaign (2025) - High reliability
- Peoples Bank - AI scams in 2026: how to protect yourself - Medium reliability
- AARP - Biggest scams to watch for in 2026 - Medium reliability
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Check a messageFrequently asked questions
How do I verify a suspicious call from a relative?
Hang up and call them back on their known number, or ask something only they'd know. Agree a family safe word in advance.
A video call looked exactly like my boss authorising a payment - could it be fake?
Yes. Deepfake video can imitate a real person, so confirm any unusual payment request through a separate, known channel before acting, however genuine the call seems.
How can families protect against voice-cloning scams?
Agree a private safe word, and if an emergency call asks for money, hang up and call the person back on their known number to confirm.