- Deepfake Scams
- AI Fraud
- Video Call Security
Scammers are now using AI deepfakes to impersonate executives, family, and officials in live video calls. Learn how these scams work and how to stay protected.
Deepfake Video Calls: The Next Generation of Scams
Deepfakes have evolved beyond fake celebrity clips and manipulated videos. Today, scammers use artificial intelligence to create live, real-time video calls featuring realistic impersonations of company executives, family members, or even government officials. All they need is a few minutes of publicly available video and audio — and a powerful deepfake tool.
How the Scam Works
Scammers train AI models using video footage from social media, company events, or online interviews. With this data, they generate live video calls that mimic a person’s face, voice, and mannerisms. These deepfakes are used to deliver urgent requests — often involving large money transfers, fake invoice approvals, or login credentials.
The scam often plays out over Zoom, Teams, or WhatsApp video calls, making it feel legitimate. In these high-stress situations, victims are often too shocked or rushed to realise they’re speaking to a fake.
Case Study: $25 Million Stolen on a Zoom Call
In one of the most alarming cases to date, a finance clerk in Hong Kong was tricked during a video conference. They believed they were speaking with multiple senior executives — but all participants were deepfakes. The call appeared professional and urgent, prompting the clerk to transfer over $25 million to fraudulent accounts.
This case shows just how far the technology has come — and how devastating the consequences can be.
Why It’s So Dangerous
- Visual trust: Seeing someone you recognise on a video call naturally lowers your defences.
- Real-time manipulation: These are not pre-recorded videos — they respond and interact in real time.
- Professional context: The scams often occur in corporate environments, involving financial requests or confidential information.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Unexpected video meetings: A call from an executive or official you weren’t expecting should raise concern.
- Urgent requests: Deepfake scams rely on urgency — wiring money, paying invoices, or sharing credentials immediately.
- Unusual audio or video glitches: Watch for lag, unnatural blinking, robotic voices, or odd lip-syncing.
- Limited camera angles or facial movement: Deepfakes often avoid complex movements or dynamic environments.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Organisation
- Verify independently: Always confirm sensitive requests via a separate channel — a phone call or internal messaging system.
- Use secure communication tools: Choose platforms with strong authentication and encryption.
- Train your team: Educate staff on the risks of deepfake video scams, especially those in finance or admin roles.
- Establish procedures: Implement multi-person approval processes for large financial transfers or credential access.
Final Thought
Deepfake scams are not just a future threat — they’re happening now. As AI tools become more accessible, organisations and individuals need to stay alert. Just because you see a familiar face on your screen doesn’t mean it’s real.
Stay sceptical, verify everything, and never make financial decisions based solely on a video call — no matter how convincing it seems.