A Guide to Deepfake Scams and AI Voice Spoofing

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Imagine your phone rings. It’s your boss, frantically instructing you to wire millions of dollars to a new supplier to close a critical deal. The request is unusual, but the voice is unmistakably theirs, so you make the transfer. Hours later, you discover the deal was fake, the supplier was a scammer, and the voice on the phone was a perfect digital replica.

This isn’t a scene from a sci-fi thriller. It’s the terrifying reality of sophisticated, rapidly growing deepfake scams and AI voice spoofing. As technology for AI voice spoofing and deepfake video generation becomes more accessible, these scams are no longer limited to high-value corporate targets. They’re increasingly used to impersonate family members, create political disinformation, and perpetrate new forms of identity theft.

In 2024 alone, instances of deepfake fraud surged by a staggering 3,000%, fueled by the democratization of powerful AI tools and the vast ocean of our personal data online. Scammers no longer need Hollywood-level resources. All they need is increasingly accessible software to clone a voice from a short social media clip or create a convincing fake video from public photos.

This guide is designed to arm you with the knowledge to navigate this new digital minefield, learn how this technology works, explore real-world examples and their devastating impact, and provide you with actionable strategies to detect these scams and protect yourself, your family, and your business from fraud.

What are AI voice and deepfake scams?

AI voice scams leverage sophisticated technology to mimic a person’s voice, usually obtained from publicly available audio or data breaches, accompanied by urgent or distressed narratives to trick victims into sending money or divulging sensitive information. They might impersonate a family member in an emergency, or a colleague needing immediate funds, exploiting emotional ties and creating a sense of urgency to defraud the target.

Meanwhile, deepfakes are AI—or machine learning-based hyper-realistic synthetic videos that seamlessly swap faces, alter expressions, or even generate entirely new scenarios. They make it appear as if someone said or did something they never did, blurring the lines between reality and fabrication.

The science behind AI voice cloning and deepfake scams

The core technology behind AI voice spoofing is voice synthesis, often powered by generative adversarial networks (GANs). Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it works:

Data collection: A scammer needs a sample of the target’s voice. This can be surprisingly easy to obtain. A few seconds from a voicemail, a social media video, a podcast interview, or even a customer service call is often enough.
Model training: The AI model analyzes the voice sample, breaking it down into unique characteristics—pitch, tone, accent, pace, and even breathing patterns—and learns to mimic these vocal biomarkers.
Generation and refinement: The scammer types the script they want the AI to “speak.” The generator part of the GAN creates the audio, while the discriminator part checks it against the original voice sample for authenticity. In mere seconds, this process repeats thousands of times until the generated voice becomes more realistic with each cycle.

The result is a highly convincing audio file that is used during a vishing or voice phishing phone call or embedded into a video.

The technology behind deepfake videos is quite similar to voice cloning, except that scammers gather images and videos of the target person from public sources like social media, news reports, or company websites. The more visual data they have—showing different angles, expressions, lighting, facial features, mannerisms, and movements—the more realistic the final deepfake will be.

Once trained, the AI can overlay the synthesized face onto a source video of another person, matching the target’s face with the expressions and head movements of the source actor. The audio, which might be a cloned voice, is then synchronized with the video, then used in deception for financial gain, reputational damage, or political manipulation.

Real-world impact of deepfake scams

CEO fraud

In CEO scams, also known as business email compromise, scammers would send emails pretending to be executives to trick employees into making unauthorized wire transfers. In 2019, a UK-based energy firm’s CEO was duped into transferring €220,000 to a Hungarian supplier after receiving a call from someone who perfectly mimicked the voice of his German principal company’s chief executive. The CEO reported he recognized his boss’s “slight German accent and his melody,” making the request seem completely legitimate.

Grandparent scam

The classic grandparent scam involves a fraudster calling an elderly person, pretending to be their grandchild in trouble and needing emergency funds. Here, scammers scrape a short audio clip of the grandchild’s voice from a TikTok or Instagram video to create a convincing plea for help. A mother in Arizona received a call from an unknown number, but heard her 15-year-old daughter’s voice crying and claiming she’d been kidnapped. While the woman was on the phone, her husband called their daughter, who was safe at a ski practice. The voice on the phone was a complete fabrication.

Political disinformation

The AI threat extends to democratic processes and spreads mass confusion. In early 2024, residents in New Hampshire received a robocall featuring a fake, AI-generated audio of President Joe Biden, urging them not to vote in the state’s primary. Malicious actors can use deepfake technology to create compromising videos or audio to blackmail individuals or cause reputational sabotage.

Romance scams

Scammers now deploy deepfake images, videos, and cloned voices to create believable fake personas on dating platforms. Victims, often lonely individuals seeking companionship, are manipulated emotionally and financially as deepfake video calls lower suspicions of these romance scams. Many women have lost their savings, believing they were romantically involved with a trustworthy person or popular celebrities. Only after sending them money did the women realize they had been scammed.

Fake celebrity endorsements

Fraudsters superimpose a celebrity’s face and voice onto promotional videos for investment scams and miracle products. Fans and social media followers are thus more likely to be duped into spending money, believing the endorsement is genuine. One recent example is a deepfake video of Taylor Swift giving away cookware, deceiving fans into buying the product.

Bypassing biometric security

Deepfake audio or video can be used to mimic a target’s biometric features to gain unauthorized access to bank accounts, mobile phones, and confidential corporate systems. Financial account holders and those using voice or facial recognition for sensitive transactions are especially vulnerable.

Government and law enforcement impersonation

Criminals use deepfakes to pose as authorities—police, IRS agents, or immigration officials—on calls or video chats, demanding money or personal information. Immigrants, the elderly, and those unfamiliar with procedural norms face the highest risk.

How to spot a scam

Whether it’s a phone call that sounds exactly like your loved one or a video of a public figure saying something they never did, these scams are designed to exploit your trust. With the right knowledge, you can learn to recognize the subtle signs that something isn’t quite right. Here’s a list of red flags to help you spot an AI voice or deepfake video scam before it’s too late.

AI voice clone

AI models struggle to replicate the nuances of human emotion and speech perfectly. To recognize the tell-tale signs of a voice scam when you receive a suspicious call, closely listen for subtle imperfections listed below, even if the voice generally sounds familiar.

Monotone or flat affect: The speech might lack the normal emotional highs and lows. It may sound strangely detached or robotic, even if the voice itself is correct.
Noticeable digital artifacts: Occasionally, you might hear faint electronic buzzing, echo, or audio “artifacts” absent with human speakers, especially on longer calls.
Unusual pacing or cadence: Listen for odd pauses in the middle of sentences or a rhythm that feels slightly off. Sometimes words run together unnaturally, or pauses appear in awkward spots, unlike organic conversation.
Lack of human sounds: You might not hear the small, subconscious sounds people make, like clearing their throat, sighing, or other filler noises. Conversely, you might hear digitally inserted breathing sounds that are too regular. Laughter and surprise often sound especially unnatural in AI-generated audio.
Poor audio quality or strange background noise: While not a definitive sign, scammers often use a backdrop of static or call-center sounds to mask imperfections in the voice clone. If the background sounds are generic or loop oddly, that’s a potential sign of manipulation.
Repetitive phrasing: The AI may be operating from a limited script. If you ask a question and get a slightly rephrased version of a previous statement, be suspicious.

Deepfake video

In a video call or a pre-recorded video, visual cues can give away the deception. Look for glitches where the AI fails to create a seamless reality.

Visual jitter: Watch for sudden, brief flickers where the face or head seems to vibrate or shift unnaturally, especially when the person moves quickly.
Unnatural eye movement: Deepfakes often struggle with realistic blinking. The subject might not blink enough, or their blinking might seem unnatural. If their gaze doesn’t track your movement or the camera, it could signal a fake.
Mismatched lip-synching: The words you hear might not perfectly align with the movements of the person’s mouth. This is often most obvious at the start or end of sentences, or during rapid speech.
Awkward facial expressions: The facial movements may not match the emotion being conveyed by the voice. Smiles and laughter are common “break points” for deepfake video glitches.
Blurry or warped edges: Look closely at the edges where the face meets the neck, hair, or background. You might see strange blurring, distortion, or color inconsistencies. Hats and glasses are frequent trouble spots in deepfake videos.
Inconsistent lighting, shadows, and textures: The lighting on the person’s face may not match the lighting in the rest of the scene. For example, shadows might fall in the wrong direction. The skin might also look too smooth, waxy, or have an unusual texture.

Psychological strategy in a scam: Urgency, secrecy, and emotion

Technology aside, deepfake scams rely on the same social engineering tactics as traditional fraud. The goal is to short-circuit your critical thinking by putting you under pressure.

Extreme urgency: The scammer will insist that you must act now to prevent you from having time to think, consult others, or verify the request.
Emotional manipulation: The communication is carefully designed to provoke fear, anxiety, or excitement to cloud judgment and shortcut your normal security protocols.
Demand for secrecy: They will often tell you not to talk to anyone else about the request, feigning confidentiality or concern for the well-being of others.
Unusual payment methods: Scammers will almost always demand money via unconventional methods, such as wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or gift cards because these methods cannot be traced or reversed.
Emotional hook: The request will be designed to elicit a strong emotional response such as fear during a fake kidnapping, greed involving a secret deal, or compassion for a loved one in trouble.

Protect yourself and your business from AI fraud

To safeguard your security, awareness and proactive defense are critical. Simple but effective protocols in your personal and professional life help build a strong defense against these attacks. While no tech is foolproof, adding layers of security can deter attackers.

For individuals: Fortify your personal security

Establish a safe word: Agree on a secret word or question with your close family members, and invoke it if you ever receive a frantic call asking for money. A scammer using AI voice cloning won’t know the answer.
Verify, verify, verify: If you receive an urgent request for money or sensitive information, hang up. Contact the person through a different, known channel—whether it is via a trusted phone number, text, or a different messaging app to confirm the request is real.
Be mindful of your digital footprint: Be cautious about the amount of audio and video content you post publicly on social media. The more voice samples a scammer has, the better their clone will be. Consider making your accounts private.
Question unexpected contact: If you get a call or video chat from an unknown number claiming to be someone you know, be immediately skeptical. Ask them a personal question that only the real person would know the answer to.

For businesses: Implement a multilayered defense

Mandatory employee training: The biggest vulnerability in any organization is an untrained employee. Conduct regular training sessions to educate your team about deepfake scams, vishing, and social engineering tactics. Use real-world examples to highlight the threat.
Implement strict verification protocols: Create a multistep verification process for any financial transaction or data transfer request, especially if it is unusual or urgent. This includes mandatory callback verification to a pre-approved number or a face-to-face check-in for large sums. Never rely on a single point of contact via phone or email.
Restrict public information: Where possible, limit the amount of publicly available information about your key executives, such as videos and audio recordings on the company website or in public forums.
Use technology as a defense: Consider advanced security solutions that use biometrics like “voiceprinting” to authenticate users.

What to do after an AI voice or a deepfake video scam attempt

Discovering that you’ve been targeted by an AI voice or deepfake video scam can be unsettling—but your response can help protect your identity, finances, and others from falling victim. Here’s what you should do immediately after encountering an AI-powered scam attempt:

Do not engage: Hang up the phone or end the video call immediately. The longer you stay on the line, the more opportunities the scammer has to manipulate you. Do not provide any personal information.
Do not send money: No matter how convincing or heartbreaking the story is, do not make any payments or transfers.
Pause and think: Take a deep breath. The scam is designed to make you panic. Giving yourself a moment to think clearly is your best defense.
Verify independently: Contact the actual person through a trusted, separate communication channel to confirm their well-being and the legitimacy of the request.

Report the incident

Reporting these attempts is crucial, even if you didn’t fall for the scam. It helps law enforcement identify, track, and shut down these criminal networks.

Contact law enforcement: Report the scam to your local police department and federal agencies. In the U.S., you should file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.
Inform the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): The FTC tracks scam patterns to issue public warnings and take action against fraudulent companies. You can report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Notify relevant platforms: If the scam originated from a social media platform, report the account responsible for violating the platform’s policies on impersonation and synthetic media.

Consequences of falling for AI voice or deepfake video scams

Being victimized by AI voice spoofing and deepfake scams brings devastating aftermaths that can ripple through your financial, personal, and even legal life. Below are some of them:

Immediate repercussions: The most immediate impact is financial loss, as scammers will drain your bank accounts or convince you to wire irretrievable large sums.
Identity theft and credit damage: If you share sensitive information, fraudsters may open new accounts, take out loans, or commit further fraud in your name, resulting in long-term credit harm and the time-consuming task of reclaiming your identity.
Emotional distress: The shock, embarrassment, and stress can be overwhelming, triggering anxiety, loss of trust, and even depression. Many victims blame themselves, despite being targeted by a sophisticated criminal.
Legal and reputational fallout: Businesses may face lawsuits from clients or regulatory authorities, while individuals could endure prolonged investigations, especially if scammers use their identities for nefarious activities.

FAQs: Deepfake and AI scam

Can a deepfake be made from just one photo?
While more data—multiple photos and videos—produces a more convincing deepfake, basic deepfakes can be created from a single photograph. For example, AI can animate a still photo to make it appear as though the person is speaking or looking around. However, these are often easier to spot than deepfakes trained on extensive video footage.

Are deepfake scams illegal?
Yes. Using deepfakes for fraud, harassment, or impersonation is illegal. In 2024, U.S. federal agencies took significant steps to combat this threat. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned AI-generated voices in robocalls, while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced rules that specifically prohibit impersonating individuals, businesses, or government agencies to commit fraud.

What is the most common type of deepfake scam?
Financial fraud is currently the most prevalent and damaging type of deepfake scam. This includes CEO fraud or business email compromise scams, where criminals use AI-cloned voices or videos of executives to trick employees into making unauthorized wire transfers. Scams impersonating family members in distress to request emergency funds are also increasingly common and effective.

Key takeaways

The rise of deepfake scams and AI voice spoofing represents a fundamental shift in digital security, as scammers digitally forge our voices and likenesses with ease. However, you can fight against these malicious activities with a core defense strategy that remains remarkably human—better digital literacy, stronger vigilance, deeper critical thinking, a healthy dose of skepticism, and a commitment to verification.

Understanding how AI voice cloning works, learning to recognize the technical and psychological red flags, and implementing robust security protocols in both your personal and professional lives will help you build a formidable defense. McAfee AI resources and cybersecurity tools can support you in this endeavor.

The future will undoubtedly bring even more sophisticated forms of synthetic media. Staying informed and proactive is your best strategy. Share this information with your family, friends, and colleagues. The more people who are aware of the scam tactics, the less effective they become.