HomeReal or fake?
Deepfakes and scams blur the line between truth and fiction. Understand the technology, stay ahead of the curve, and share what you know. Together, we can outsmart the scams and protect each other.
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McAfee is your source for the latest Al news and protections
The rise in Al-generated content has made it difficult to determine what’s real from what’s fake. Stay ahead of Al-generated scams and election disinformation.
Spotting scams is tough. Scam Detector makes it easy.
Scam Detector spots scams, fraud, and misinformation automatically.
- Adapts to stay ahead of scammers
- Automatic scam protection for texts, email, and videos
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What is a deepfake?
In the age of social media and viral videos, it’s getting harder to trust what we see online. Enter deepfakes: audio, videos, or images that look incredibly real, but are actually cleverly manipulated by AI.
Imagine your favorite celebrity starring in a movie they never actually filmed, or a politician giving a speech they never actually delivered. That’s the power of deepfakes. Deepfakes are made using existing videos or photos and, with the help of AI, can swap faces, change voices, or even make people say or do things they never did.
What is generative AI?
Generative AI is the specific type of artificial intelligence that powers many of the AI tools available. The “G” in ChatGPT stands for generative. Today’s generative AI evolved from the use of chatbots in the 1960s. Now, as AI and related technologies like deep learning and machine learning have evolved, generative AI can answer prompts and create text, art, videos, and even simulate convincing human voices.
How can I protect myself from deepfakes?
Deepfake AI scams are increasingly common, but prevention is possible. Protect yourself from AI-generated video risks with these strategies:
- Stay informed: Keep up with the latest AI video technologies.
- Verify sources: Always check the origin of video content, especially if it seems unusual or too good to be true.
- Use trusted platforms: Watch videos from reliable sources known for authenticity.
Latest Scam Stories
One click, gone: how Cory lost control in seconds
Cory got a text claiming to be from his phone service provider about suspicious account activity. Distracted, he clicked the link. His phone stopped working immediately. The message was a scam. Cory lost access to calls, texts, and any accounts tied to his number. As a life coach who communicates with clients daily, it was a nightmare.
The experience left him shaken. His advice? Slow down, trust your gut, and double-check before you click.
She saved for months-then a scammer took it all in seconds
As a teacher, Brittany had saved for months to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. After scoring tickets, she was counting down the days-until she logged into the ticketing platform and saw they were gone. A strange link she’d clicked days earlier, a reused password, and no two-factor authentication had let a scammer take over her account.
“You can be careful and still get caught,” she says. “I’m only human.”
From hype to heartbreak: the ticket deal that wasn’t real
Henry was trying for weeks to get a ticket to see Tyler, the Creator.
Outside the venue, he saw a post from someone claiming to have two extras. The seller asked for $280 up front. Then came the red flags: delays, pressure to pay more, and a screenshot showing someone offering $250 per ticket.
He wishes he’d had a tool to spot the red flags before it was too late.
Now, he’s working with his bank to recover the money and warning others online.
Latest Deepfake detected
Don’t fall for it: MrBeast is not selling you an iPhone for $2 – that’s a deepfake scam.
Don’t believe the hype, or the video. Scammers are using AI deepfakes to impersonate MrBeast, claiming he’s giving away 10,000 iPhones for just $2 each.
No, Kylie didn’t tell Kendall to dump Harry Styles.
That’s a deepfake soap opera.
It might sound like her. It might look like her. But it’s not real. AI-generated videos are getting disturbingly convincing, and this one is pure fiction dressed up as a celebrity feud.
This Zendaya ‘breakup’ video is totally fake.
Blame Al, not Timothée Chalamet.
This viral video is an Al deepfake. A well-crafted lie designed to grab your attention, mislead you, and rack up clicks.
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