What AI-powered fraud looks like today

Face and voice imposters

Fake IDs and approvals

Cloned websites

How to spot deepfake scams

Video red flags

• Lips not in sync with words, or teeth and tongue look like a blur.
• Eyes blink too rarely, too often, or at the wrong time.
• Edges of hair, glasses, or earrings flicker or smear against the background.
• Skin texture is too smooth, lighting shifts oddly, or shadows jump.
• Head turns look stiff; profile views break the illusion.

Audio red flags

• Flat tone and robotic “s,” “sh,” or “ch” sounds.
• No natural breaths, room noise, or mic rustle.
• Accent or word choice drifts mid-call.
• Background echo does not match what you see.

Behavior red flags

• Rush and secrecy: “Do it now, don’t tell anyone.”
• Move off-platform to a private link or app.
• Asks for passwords, MFA codes, crypto, or gift cards.
• Refuses a callback on a known number.

Live checks you can request

• Ask for an odd action: “Touch your left ear, then show today’s date on paper.” Deepfakes often fail at quick, unscripted moves.
• Ask them to turn 90 degrees and come back. Side angles break many face swaps.
• Use a second channel: hang up and call a saved number, or send a new email to a known address. Never trust a link they provide.

Protect your identity during verification

Smart habits before you share

• Only upload ID photos inside an official app or site you typed yourself. Do not email selfies or IDs.
• Check the URL carefully. Look for misspellings or odd subdomains.
• Use a password manager; it will refuse to fill on look‑alike sites.

Stronger account defenses

• Use passkeys or a hardware security key where offered.
• Turn on app-based 2FA (not SMS) and set account alerts for logins and transfers.
• Use unique passwords for every site.

Limit what scammers can learn

• Hide your birthday, address, and school details on social media.
• Remove old posts that reveal travel or family patterns.
• Set a code word with close family for emergencies.

Guard your credit

• Place a free credit freeze with all major bureaus. Thaw only when needed.
• Set credit and transaction alerts; review statements weekly.

Stay safe on websites and apps

• Type the site address; avoid clicking links in messages.
• Padlock icons are not enough. Confirm the full domain name.
• Watch for unusual grammar, broken menus, or payment flows that feel new.
• Update your browser and phone. Turn on built-in phishing and malware protection.
• If a site asks you to “reverify” with your ID without warning, stop and contact support through a known channel.

What to do if you think you were fooled

• Stop the contact. Do not send money or share more info.
• Change passwords and revoke sessions on the affected accounts.
• Move funds to a safe account; call your bank on the number on your card.
• Enable a credit freeze and place a fraud alert with the bureaus.
• Report to your bank, the platform, and to the FTC (ReportFraud.ftc.gov) or IC3.gov.
• Keep screenshots, caller IDs, and transaction IDs. They help investigations.

If you run a team or business

• Use two-person approvals for payments and changes to vendor info.
• Confirm requests by a separate channel you already trust.
• Adopt passkeys and phishing-resistant MFA for staff.
• Train people with short, realistic drills that include voice and video lures.
• Review any video ID process for liveness checks and challenge prompts.

(Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deep-fakes-ai-tools-scammers-identity-theft-cybersecurity/)

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