As artificial intelligence becomes more advanced, cybercriminals are using it to create highly convincing deepfake attacks. These scams use AI-generated voices, videos, or messages to impersonate people you trust—such as a company CEO, a coworker, or even a family member. The goal is usually urgent action: transferring money, sharing sensitive information, or bypassing normal security processes. Understanding how these attacks work is the first step in stopping them.
Example 1: The "CEO" Urgent Request
An employee receives a phone call or
voicemail that sounds exactly like the company CEO, asking for an immediate wire transfer or
gift card purchase due to a "confidential situation." The voice uses familiar phrases and
pressures the employee not to verify the request.
How to identify and prevent it: Be suspicious of urgent, secretive financial
requests—especially those that bypass normal
approval processes. Always ask personal questions and verify requests through a second channel,
such as calling the CEO directly or checking with finance or IT, even if the voice sounds
authentic.
Example 2: The Fake Executive Video Call
Attackers create a deepfake video of
a senior leader joining a virtual meeting and instructing staff to share credentials or download
software. The video may be slightly off—limited facial movement, odd lighting, or minimal
interaction— or could be perfect, in any case it will be convincing enough in the
moment.
How to identify and prevent it: Ask personal questions that AI research
cannot answer, like what was the last office birthday celebration, or where the CEO usually
parks. Train employees to never share passwords, approve system changes, or initiate
financial transactions during online meetings without written verification, out-of-band
verification, and established change-management steps.
Example 3: The "Family Emergency" Scam
A person receives a call or voice message that sounds like a child, parent, or spouse claiming
they're in trouble and
urgently need money. The attacker relies on fear and emotional stress to stop the victim from
thinking clearly.
How to identify and prevent it: Pause and verify before acting.
Call the family member back using a known phone number, or contact another trusted person.
Establish a family "Verification Word" or phrase that can be used to confirm identity during
emergencies.
Deepfake attacks thrive on urgency, authority, and emotion. The best defense is slowing down, verifying through trusted channels, and educating staff and family members that even familiar voices and faces can be faked. In a world where seeing and hearing is no longer believing, healthy skepticism is a powerful security tool.
Share this blog:
