FRAUD

Deepfakes: When Seeing Isn’t Believing

In today’s digital era, seeing is no longer believing. Deepfakes are realistic audio, video and images created using artificial intelligence, and they have emerged as a powerful tool for fraudsters. These manipulated forms of media can mimic the voices and faces of real people, making them a dangerous tool in scams, and a source of spreading misinformation. As deepfake technology becomes more accessible, so does the risk of being fooled. That said, with vigilance and awareness, you can learn to spot the signs of a deepfake before it does real damage.

What are deepfakes?

Deepfakes use AI to create realistic media. Originally, deepfakes were used for entertainment or artistic purposes, but now they are being used in financial scams, identity theft and fraud impersonation. Examples of deepfakes include:

• Voice cloning to trick people into sending money or revealing personal information.
• Phishing attacks using fake video messages pretending to be friends or family.

Why are deepfakes so dangerous?

Deepfakes exploit the natural human tendency to trust what we see and hear. Unlike traditional phishing emails or fake websites, deepfakes can bypass many of the red flags we’re trained to watch for. This makes them more convincing and more dangerous. Deepfakes can:

• Damage one’s reputation.
• Create false credibility.
• Compromise one’s trust in digital communication.

How can I spot a deepfake?

While some deepfakes can seem almost perfect, most have telltale signs you can watch for, including:

• Unnatural facial movements like blinking too rarely or head movements that don’t match their speech.
• Lip-sync errors. Watch for timing to be slightly off or lips not aligning with the words being said. - Inconsistencies that include eyeglasses that don’t reflect anything, subtle clothing or jewelry changes between frames, or weird backgrounds.
• Behavioral red flags that include requests for urgent actions involving money or personal information. When they want you to go fast, go slow.

The bottom line is deepfakes are an increasing threat. As they become more sophisticated, the harder they will become to decipher. Awareness is key to protecting yourself. By knowing what to look for and practicing some vigilance, you can stay ahead of the fraudsters looking to exploit you.

Sources:

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/increasing_threats_of_deepfake_identities_0.pdf