Don’t Be Fooled: Protect Your Business from Video and Audio Deepfakes

Deepfakes are becoming more sophisticated - and more dangerous. The technology, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to replicate existing voices and images to create convincing audio and video clips, has grown exponentially in recent years, creating both positive and negative opportunities for its use. Fraudsters now launch deep-fake fraud attacks by cloning voices with shocking accuracy, tricking employees, customers, and even family members into costly and sometimes irreversible actions. As deepfake scams grow more sophisticated, businesses must rethink how they protect their calls and reputation.

Here are some examples of how deepfake scams could impact a business.

Imagine a scenario where a deepfake is used to impersonate a customer service representative of a bank. A bad actor could create a convincing video or audio clip of a customer service agent providing incorrect information about account balances, interest rates, or loan terms to customers. This misinformation could lead to confusion and frustration among customers, potentially causing them to make improper financial decisions based on false information.
A deepfake could be used to create a video where the CEO of a company announces a financial crisis or fraudulent activity within the organization, whether that be an internal scam to employees or externally spread to customers. This misinformation could cause panic among the public, leading to reputational damage and potential regulatory scrutiny.
Consider a situation where you receive an email that appears to be from your usual point of contact with a vendor, complete with their familiar email signature. The message is friendly and conversational, stating that there's a small issue with an overdue invoice that needs your attention. They emphasize how much they appreciate your partnership and mention that settling this promptly will help ensure uninterrupted service. The email encourages you to call a specific phone number to discuss the matter further. Trusting the familiar name, you dial the number, only to find yourself speaking to a deepfake that sounds just like your contact. The conversation feels genuine, and you're convinced to provide payment details, unknowingly authorizing a payment that goes straight to the scammer instead of the legitimate vendor.

The examples are not meant to scare you away from AI but are instead intended to help you detect and prevent deepfakes from happening to your business. Proactive measures a business may take to mitigate the risks of deepfakes include the following:

Raise Awareness and Training: Educate employees about the existence of deepfakes, their potential impact, and how to recognize them based on the industry you operate in. Provide training on verifying the authenticity and source of digital content and encourage skepticism when encountering unfamiliar or suspicious communications.
Monitor Online Presence: Regularly monitor online platforms and your social media presence for any unauthorized or manipulated content that could potentially harm your business’ reputation.
Implement Verification Processes: Establish verification procedures for high-risk transactions, such as financial transfers or changes to corporate policies. Utilize multi-factor authentication and other security protocols to confirm the identity of individuals involved if such processes are handled through digital channels.
Enhance Cybersecurity Measures: Strengthen cybersecurity defenses to protect against unauthorized access and manipulation of digital assets, including employee and customer data. Regularly update software, employ encryption technologies, and conduct vulnerability assessments to identify and mitigate potential weaknesses in your company’s technology. Cybersecurity policies are another measure that could be instituted to promote corporate security.

The path forward for prevention of deepfake scams and disinformation is rocky, as AI technology has grown in sophistication every day. To help mitigate risks, it's vital that individuals and businesses are aware of the increasingly subtle risks posed by technology and adopt personal and institutional safeguards to help.

Para obtener más información sobre cómo protegerse a sí mismo y a sus cuentas, consulte nuestros recursos sobre fraude .

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