Recognizing Deepfake and Voice Scams Targeting Accounts

Quick overview

Deepfake and voice scams are becoming more common as consumer-grade AI tools improve. They do not rely on simple social engineering alone; attackers can use synthesized speech or manipulated video to create urgency and perceived authenticity. In practice, this means you can receive a phone call, voicemail, or video message that sounds—and sometimes looks—exactly like someone you trust.

In my 15 years advising clients on fraud prevention, I’ve seen scammers escalate from simple caller-ID spoofing to highly convincing voice impersonations. That experience shapes practical, low-friction defenses you can adopt immediately.

How these scams typically work

• Data collection: Scammers harvest public audio and video from social media, call recordings, and public talks to train models.
• Voice/video synthesis: They use AI tools to generate a target’s voice or fabricate a live-looking video (deepfake).
• Active social engineering: The impersonation is combined with pressure tactics—urgency, secrecy, or authority—to prompt financial actions like wire transfers, adding new payees, or disclosing authentication codes.

This hybrid approach makes deepfake/voice scams particularly dangerous for both consumers and businesses.

Common red flags to watch for

• Unusual urgency or secrecy: Language pushing for “immediate,” “one-time,” or “don’t tell anyone” actions.
• Unexpected channel or timing: A bank rep calls at an odd hour or on a personal cell phone rather than a known business line.
• New payment requests: Requests to move funds, change direct deposit, or add a new vendor without documented, verifiable requests.
• Slightly off audio or visual cues: Strange lip sync, unnatural pauses, flat emotional tone, or abrupt background noise changes.
• Ask for verification codes: Request to read a one-time passcode (OTP) or multi-factor authentication (MFA) code—this is a common trick.

Practical verification steps (what to do right away)

1. Pause and don’t comply instantly. Scammers rely on rushed decisions.
2. Use an out-of-band verification method: hang up and call the official number you have on file (from your account statement, company directory, or the institution’s website). Do not use the number provided in the suspicious call or message.
3. Confirm identity by asking a question only the real person would know, or request a short delay to confirm with other stakeholders.
4. For business requests, follow your wire-transfer SOP: require dual approval, written requests on company letterhead, or in-person confirmation for large sums.
5. If you already shared credentials or authorized a transfer, contact your bank immediately to attempt a stop or reversal, then document everything.

Authoritative resources recommend similar out-of-band checks (FCC on spoofing: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id; NIST guidance on synthetic content: https://www.nist.gov/).

How to assess audio/video yourself (practical, non-technical checks)

• For videos: look for mismatched lighting, inconsistent blinking, uneven facial movements, or odd background transitions.
• For audio: pay attention to unnatural cadence, robotic inflection, repeated background hum, or odd breathing—signs of synthesis.
• If available, request a live verification step—ask the caller to send an email from a verified address or to join a secure video conference initiated by you.

If you want deeper technical validation (for businesses or advisors), firms can use forensic analysis tools that check spectral fingerprints, compression artifacts, and frame-level inconsistencies (forensic vendors and NIST resources can help). But for most consumers, simple out-of-band verification stops most scams.

Real-world examples and lessons learned

• Case study (consumer): A homeowner received a call sounding like their bank’s fraud team asking to confirm a large transfer. The homeowner read back an OTP because the caller sounded urgent and authoritative. The transfer completed. The homeowner later worked with the bank and recovered part of the funds—only after escalating the case and filing reports.
• Case study (small business): A CFO received a call that sounded like the CEO requesting an urgent vendor payment. Because the company required two approvals for wire transfers, the scam failed.

Lesson: built-in friction—such as callback verification or dual sign-off—stops a surprising number of scams.

Specific steps if you think you’ve been targeted

1. Stop communication with the suspect caller or sender.
2. Contact your bank or payment provider immediately and ask to freeze accounts or stop transactions.
3. Report the scam to federal and state agencies: the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) (https://www.ic3.gov/), the FTC (https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/), and your state attorney general.
4. File a complaint with the FCC if you received spoofed calls (https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id).
5. If identity information was exposed, create an Identity Theft Report and recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov (FTC) and consider a fraud alert or credit freeze with the three major credit bureaus.
6. Preserve evidence: save voicemails, call logs, emails, and any files. Document names, timestamps, and what was requested.

For businesses: policies that reduce risk

• Wire transfer controls: require at least two authorized approvers for transfers above thresholds and use fixed beneficiary details maintained in a secure ERP or payment portal.
• Outbound verification: when receiving requests to change payees, require written confirmation from a verified internal contact and a callback to a known number.
• Employee training: run regular phishing and vishing simulations and include scenarios involving fake audio/video so staff recognize the psychology of urgency.
• Contractual safeguards: ask vendors for multi-factor vendor portals rather than relying on email or phone for changes.

These operational controls align with best practices in cybersecurity and financial fraud prevention (see our related guidance on Cybersecurity Best Practices for Protecting Financial Accounts).

How to reduce your exposure proactively

• Lock down social media: limit public audio/video content and tighten privacy settings.
• Turn on strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) for financial accounts; prefer app-based or hardware tokens over SMS when possible.
• Use secure communications: avoid sharing numeric codes over phone or unsecured email. Use provider portals and encrypted messaging for sensitive exchanges.
• Keep an up-to-date incident playbook: know the bank contact numbers, legal counsel, and reporting channels you would use if targeted.

Reporting and recovery resources

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://www.ic3.gov/
• Federal Trade Commission (identity and fraud reporting): https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/ and IdentityTheft.gov
• Federal Communications Commission (caller ID spoofing guidance): https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (tips on avoiding scams): https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ (search “avoiding scams”)

You can also learn more about common phone/text verification techniques in our related glossary post Phone and Text Scams: How to Verify Caller Claims and get practical red-flag checklists in How to Spot a Financial Scam: Red Flags and Immediate Actions.

Frequently asked practical questions

• Can a bank reverse a wire sent because of a deepfake scam? Sometimes—banks can attempt recall and may reimburse depending on timing and whether internal controls were followed. Act immediately and ask the institution to escalate the case.
• Is video conferencing a safe verification channel? Only when you initiate the call using a verified account and meeting link. Do not accept a spontaneous video meeting from an unknown caller.

Final recommendations (checklist)

• Pause and verify (out-of-band) before taking any financial action.
• Use multi-factor protections and prefer non-SMS methods.
• Establish and follow dual-approval policies for business transfers.
• Report scams quickly and preserve evidence.

Professional disclaimer: This article is educational and not personalized financial or legal advice. If you suspect a crime or significant financial loss, contact your bank, local law enforcement, and a qualified attorney or financial advisor.

Authoritative sources referenced: NIST on synthetic content (https://www.nist.gov/), FCC on spoofing (https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-caller-id), FBI IC3 (https://www.ic3.gov/), and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance on avoiding scams (https://www.consumerfinance.gov/).