Deepfakes are images, videos, or audio that imitate known or trusted people.
Increasingly hard-to-detect deepfake content created with artificial intelligence (AI) is being exploited by criminals to impersonate trusted individuals, the FBI and the American Bankers Association (ABA) said in a report published Sept. 3.
In its Deepfake Media Scam infographic, the FBI said that scams targeting Americans are surging. Since 2020, the agency has received more than 4.2 million reports of fraud, amounting to $50.5 billion in losses. “Imposter scams in particular are on the rise … Criminals are using deepfakes, or media that is generated or manipulated by AI, to gain your trust and scam you out of your hard-earned money.”
Deepfake content can include altered images, audio, or video. Scammers may pose as family or friends, or as public figures, including celebrities, law enforcement, and government officials, it warned.
“Deepfakes are becoming increasingly sophisticated and harder to detect,” said Sam Kunjukunju, vice president of consumer education for the ABA Foundation.
According to the infographic, certain inconsistencies in the AI-generated material can help detect deepfakes.
When it comes to images or videos, people should watch out for blurred or distorted faces, unnatural shadows or lighting, whether audio and video are out of sync, whether the teeth and hair look real, and whether the person blinks too little or too much. In the case of audio, people should check whether the voice tone is too flat or unnatural.
The infographic listed three red flags of a deepfake scam—unexpected requests for money or personal information, emotional manipulation involving urgency or fear, and uncharacteristic communication from what appears to be a known individual.
To remain safe, ABA and FBI advised Americans to think before responding to emotional or urgent requests, and create code words or phrases to confirm the identities of loved ones.
“The FBI continues to see a troubling rise in fraud reports involving deepfake media,” said FBI Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Director Jose A. Perez.
“Educating the public about this emerging threat is key to preventing these scams and minimizing their impact. We encourage consumers to stay informed and share what they learn with friends and family so they can spot deepfakes before they do any harm.”
