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You cannot reliably tell whether a call, video, or voice message is genuine just by looking or listening. Treat suspicious details and urgent requests as reasons to pause—not as a test that proves a deepfake—and verify the person using a phone number or channel you already trust before sharing information, clicking links, or sending money. A familiar voice, caller ID, or realistic video is not proof of identity.
What to do when a call or message feels suspicious
Pause before acting on an urgent or secret request, especially one involving money, account access, personal information, or a one-time security code. A person you know—or an official—could be impersonated through synthetic audio or other deceptive messages. In a May 15, 2025 alert, the FBI described a campaign that used AI-generated voice messages to build rapport before seeking access to personal accounts.
- Stop the exchange. Do not send money, disclose credentials or one-time codes, install an app, or click a link.
- Contact the person or organization through a number you already have saved or another channel you previously confirmed. Do not rely on contact details supplied in the suspicious message.
- If the request involves money, confirm the request and its circumstances over that independent channel before paying.
- If you cannot verify the identity, do not proceed. Ask another trusted contact to help check the story.
The FTC’s advice is direct: “Don’t trust the voice. Call the person who supposedly contacted you and verify the story. Use a phone number you know is theirs.” FTC family-emergency scam advice
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How can I tell if a voice message is AI?
There is no reliable consumer test in the sources cited here for identifying a cloned voice by ear. Listen for possible warning signs such as unnatural pauses or delays, choppy sentences, unusual inflection or phrasing, and background noise that does not fit the apparent setting. These clues may justify checking further, but their presence does not prove the audio is synthetic—and their absence does not establish that it is genuine.
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A cloned voice may sound very much like someone you know. The FBI warns that AI-generated content has become difficult to identify, so familiarity should not replace independent verification. Consider whether the request is plausible, then call the person using a number you already trust. FBI alert on impersonation using AI-generated voice messages FBI guidance on synthetic content
How do I know if a video is a deepfake?
Look for details that seem inconsistent, such as facial features that shift or distort, speech that does not match the person’s mouth, unnatural head or body movement, odd blinking, or lighting, color, and shadows that do not fit the scene. Treat these as prompts to verify, not definitive evidence. A convincing, clean-looking clip can still be deceptive, and the FBI cautions that synthetic content is increasingly difficult to identify.
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For an important request made on video, verify the speaker through a separate channel you established beforehand. Do not make a payment or reveal sensitive information simply because the person appears on camera. The FBI’s synthetic-content guidance lists possible indicators; CISA notes that quality varies and some manipulated media may require specialized software to uncover. CISA guide to inauthentic content
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Deepfake impersonation may arrive alongside an ordinary text, email, or voice note. Check whether the sender’s number, account, email address, spelling, or web address differs slightly from what you expect, and be cautious if someone suddenly switches to a new number or platform. The FBI advises independently verifying a person who contacts you through a new channel and avoiding links until identity is confirmed.
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Payment pressure is a separate warning sign. The FTC identifies requests to wire money, send cryptocurrency, or buy gift cards and share card numbers or PINs as possible scam signs. These methods can be difficult to reverse, so do not pay until you have checked the request with the supposed sender through a known, independent route.
What should I do if my relative calls asking for money?
- Do not let a claimed emergency rush you into paying. End the call or pause the conversation.
- Call your relative using a number already saved in your contacts, or reach them through a previously confirmed channel. Do not call back using a number supplied during the suspicious exchange.
- If you cannot reach them, contact another trusted family member or person who can independently check what is happening.
- Before an emergency occurs, agree on a private family code word or phrase. The FBI recommends this approach; keep it private and do not substitute questions whose answers could be found online.
The FBI’s May 15, 2025 alert describes an impersonation campaign that began in April 2025 and used AI-generated voice messages in attempts to establish rapport before gaining access to personal accounts. The alert recommends verifying unexpected contact independently and creating a family phrase. Read the FBI alert
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If you already paid, clicked, or shared information
- Sent money: Contact the bank, payment service, cryptocurrency platform, or other provider involved as soon as possible, using its official contact route. Ask whether the transaction can be stopped or recovered.
- Shared account details or a security code: Contact the affected account provider through its official channel, secure the account, and change exposed credentials. Never give anyone a multi-factor authentication (MFA) code in response to an unsolicited request.
- Clicked a link or installed an app: Do not enter more information. Contact the relevant account or device provider through an official channel for guidance on securing the account or device.
- Report suspected fraud: In the United States, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For an incident involving cybercrime, consult the FBI’s cybercrime reporting resources.
Protect accounts separately from spotting deepfakes
MFA can help protect accounts, but it does not identify synthetic audio or video. The FBI recommends using MFA where available, never disclosing MFA codes, and avoiding message links until a sender’s identity is independently confirmed. These are account-safety steps, not a way to authenticate a recording.
The FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Complaint Center annual report lists 22,364 complaints reporting AI-related information and adjusted losses exceeding $893 million. Those figures cover the report’s broad AI-related complaint category; they are not a count of deepfake-call losses or voice and video cloning alone. FBI IC3 2025 Annual Report
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