Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we live and work – but unfortunately, it’s also changing the way criminals commit fraud. According to the American Bankers Association (ABA), scammers are increasingly using AI-generated “deepfakes” to impersonate family members, friends, businesses, government officials, and even law enforcement in an effort to steal money and personal information.

Since 2020, the FBI has received more than 4.2 million reports of fraud, resulting in over $50.5 billion in reported losses. As technology continues to evolve, it’s more important than ever to know how to recognize the warning signs of a deepfake scam.

A deepfake is an image, video, or audio recording that has been created or altered using artificial intelligence. These realistic-looking and realistic-sounding messages are designed to convince you that you’re interacting with someone you know or trust.

A scammer might use a cloned voice to sound like a loved one asking for emergency financial help or create a fake video impersonating a public official or business representative. As AI continues to advance, these scams are becoming increasingly convincing, making it important to focus not only on what you see or hear, but also on the nature of the request itself.

While deepfakes are becoming more realistic, the requests that accompany them often follow familiar scam patterns. Rather than focusing solely on whether a video or voice is real, pay attention to the situation itself.

Be cautious if someone:

• Unexpectedly asks you to send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency.
• Requests passwords, verification codes, account information, or other personal details.
• Pressures you to act immediately or creates a sense of urgency.
• Asks you to keep the conversation or request a secret.
• Claims to be a family member, bank representative, government official, or law enforcement officer and discourages you from verifying their identity.
• Communicates in a way that feels unusual or out of character, even if the voice or appearance seems convincing.

If something doesn’t feel right, pause before taking action. A few extra moments could prevent a costly mistake.

Advances in AI are making deepfakes increasingly difficult to detect. While some AI-generated videos or audio may still contain subtle inconsistencies, many are highly convincing. These signs should be viewed as possible indicators—not a reliable way to determine whether something is authentic.

You may notice:

• Audio and video that don’t quite match.
• Facial movements or expressions that appear unnatural.
• A voice that sounds slightly unusual or inconsistent.
• Lighting, shadows, or image quality that seems off.

If you notice any of these signs, don’t rely on them alone. Instead, verify the request through a trusted phone number, official website, or another independent method of communication.

The best protection isn’t spotting every deepfake—it’s slowing down before you respond.

Here are a few simple ways to protect yourself:

• Stop and think. Be cautious if someone is pressuring you to act immediately or creating fear or panic.
• Verify independently. Contact the person or organization using a trusted phone number or official website—not the contact information provided in the message.
• Create a family code word. Establish a unique word or phrase with loved ones to help confirm identities during an emergency.
• Limit your digital footprint. Public photos, videos, and voice recordings can be used to train AI models that create deepfakes.
• Think before you share. Avoid reposting videos or images unless you’ve confirmed they come from a trustworthy source.

If you believe you’ve been targeted by a scam:

• Contact your bank immediately if you’ve sent money or shared sensitive financial information.
• Report the incident to your local law enforcement agency.
• File a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

The sooner you report suspicious activity, the better the chances of limiting potential losses.

Fraud tactics will continue to evolve, but one thing remains the same: taking a moment to pause, verify, and think before you act is one of the best ways to protect yourself.

At MCBANK, we’re committed to helping our clients stay informed, recognize emerging scams, and bank with confidence. By staying aware and taking a few extra moments to verify suspicious requests, you can help protect yourself and the people you care about.

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