Deepfake Video Scams
Americans lost $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Deepfake video scams use artificial intelligence to create realistic but fake videos of people to steal money or information, with the FBI reporting that AI-related scams cost Americans nearly $893 million in 2025.
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How It Works
1
Scammers collect images and video clips of a target person from social media, news reports, or other public sources. The more visual and audio data they gather, the more realistic the final deepfake will be.
2
Using advanced AI software, criminals train an algorithm on the collected data to mimic the person's face, voice, and mannerisms. This allows them to generate new video or audio content that appears authentic.
3
The deepfake video is used in a scam, such as impersonating a CEO in a video call to authorize fraudulent wire transfers, faking a family member in distress to ask for emergency money, or creating a fake celebrity endorsement for an investment scheme.
4
The scammer creates a sense of urgency or emotional distress to pressure the victim into acting quickly without verification, leading them to send money or sensitive information before they realize it's a fake.
Red Flags
- Unnatural eye movement, such as infrequent blinking or a gaze that doesn't track properly.
- Mismatched lip-syncing where the audio does not align perfectly with the mouth movements.
- Awkward or unnatural facial expressions and movements that don't match the emotional tone of the voice.
- Blurry or distorted edges around the person's head, hair, or body.
- Inconsistent lighting, shadows, or skin texture that appears too smooth or waxy.
- An urgent, unexpected request for money or personal information, especially via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or gift cards.
- A robotic or flat tone of voice, with unusual pauses or scripted-sounding answers.
What to Do If Targeted
- If you receive a suspicious video call or message, hang up or stop responding immediately.
- Independently verify the request. Call the person back using a known, trusted phone number, not the one that contacted you.
- Create a verbal safeword with family members to use in case of a real emergency to verify their identity.
- Resist the pressure to act quickly. Scammers create a sense of urgency to prevent you from thinking critically.
- Contact your bank or financial institution immediately if you have sent money.
- Report the scam to the social media platform or website where the deepfake was shared.
How to Report It
- FTC — Report fraud, scams, and bad business practices to the Federal Trade Commission.
- FBI IC3 — File a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for any cybercrime.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 22,364 complaints related to AI-enabled scams in 2025, with losses exceeding $893 million. — FBI Internet Crime Report 2025
- Deepfake fraud attempts surged by 3,000% in 2023, fueled by the growing accessibility of generative AI tools. — Onfido 2024
- Deepfake video scams surged 700% in 2025, with 159,378 unique instances detected in the fourth quarter alone. — Vectra AI March 2026
- In North America, deepfake fraud incidents increased by 1,740% between 2022 and 2023. — Sumsub
- Of people targeted by an AI voice scam who lost money, 77% reported a financial loss. — McAfee 2024
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Frequently Asked Questions
A deepfake scam uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake video or audio recordings that look and sound like a real person. Scammers use this technology to impersonate family members, executives, or celebrities to trick victims into sending money or personal information.
The FBI's 2025 Internet Crime Report revealed that AI-related scams, which include deepfakes, cost Americans nearly $893 million from over 22,000 complaints. Deepfake fraud attempts surged by 3,000% in 2023, showing a rapid increase in this type of crime.
Look for visual and audio inconsistencies. Telltale signs include unnatural eye movements, poor lip-syncing, blurry edges around the subject, and a robotic or emotionless tone of voice. Scammers often create a sense of urgency to make you act before you can spot these flaws.
Do not send money or provide personal information. Hang up and call the person directly using a phone number you know is theirs to verify the request. Report the incident to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov.
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