--- title: "Deepfake video scams: how to spot a fake | TapSafely" url: https://tapsafely.com/scams/deepfake-video-scams source: TapSafely description: "AI can fake a face and voice on video. How deepfake ads, fake video calls and fake bosses are used to steal money, and how to verify who you see." --- [Home](https://tapsafely.com/)/[Scam guides](https://tapsafely.com/scams/)/ Deepfake video scams # Deepfake video scams A famous person recommends an investment app. Your “boss” joins a video call and asks for an urgent payment. A new online friend finally agrees to video chat. With today's AI tools, all three can be fake. By the TapSafely editorial team · Updated 16 September 2026 · 3 min read ## In short AI can fake a face and voice on video. How deepfake ads, fake video calls and fake bosses are used to steal money, and how to verify who you see. **Top warning signs:** A famous person selling an investment or giveaway; Urgency and secrecy on a call; Odd video details. **First thing to do:** Pause. Say you'll call back, then contact the person through a number or channel you already trust. Example · Video ad · Illustrative, links disabled Sponsored video “I'm sharing this because the banks tried to stop me. This AI platform turned my small savings into a second income. Register before midnight, places are limited.” An example scam message with the warning signs highlighted. ## How the scam works Deepfake tools can put someone's face and voice onto another person in a video, using public interviews and social media clips. Scammers use them in three main ways. **Fake endorsements:** videos of celebrities, business leaders or news presenters promoting investment platforms, giveaways or miracle products. **Fake meetings:** a video call where a “manager”, “finance director” or “lawyer” asks an employee to make an urgent, confidential payment. **Fake relationships:** romance and friendship scammers who use a face-swapped video call to prove they are real, then ask for money or investments. ## Red flags to look for - **A famous person selling an investment or giveaway.** Treat every celebrity investment ad as fake until proven otherwise. - **Urgency and secrecy on a call.** “Do this now and don't tell anyone” is a warning sign, even from someone who looks like your boss. - **Odd video details.** Blurry edges around the face, strange blinking, lips out of sync, or a call that keeps “breaking up” when you ask questions. - **A new payment method or new bank details.** Real companies don't change where money goes during a surprise call. - **Refusal to switch channels.** The person avoids calling you back on a known number or meeting in person. ## What to do if you get one 1. Pause. Say you'll call back, then contact the person through a number or channel you already trust. 2. Ask a question only the real person would know, or use a family or team code word. [See our safe-word kit](https://tapsafely.com/family-safe-word). 3. For businesses: require a second person and a call-back check for every payment or bank-detail change. 4. Report fake celebrity ads to the platform showing them. ## Can I rely on spotting glitches? Less and less. Deepfakes are improving quickly, so the safest habit is not to judge the video at all. Verify the request through a separate, trusted channel instead. ## If you already paid or shared details ### Act quickly. It makes a difference. 1. Contact your bank or the exchange immediately and ask them to stop or recall the payment. 2. Report to the police and keep screenshots, links and call details. 3. Be wary of anyone offering to “recover” the money for a fee. More help: [what to do after a scam, and where to report it in your country](https://tapsafely.com/been-scammed). ## Questions people ask Is it only famous people who get deepfaked? No. A few photos or a short video from social media can be enough to imitate an ordinary person. Can a live video call really be fake? Yes. Real-time face and voice swapping tools exist and are used in business payment fraud and romance scams. ## Official sources and further reading We check our guides against advice from government agencies and consumer protection bodies. - [Criminals Use Generative Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Financial Fraud](https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2024/PSA241203) (US FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center) - [Deep-Fake Audio and Video Links Make Robocalls and Scam Texts Harder to Spot](https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/deep-fake-audio-and-video-links-make-robocalls-and-scam-texts-harder-spot) (US Federal Communications Commission) - [Bulletin: Fraud using deepfakes](https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/features-vedette/2024/07/bulletin-deepfakes-hypertrucage-eng.htm) (Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre) ### Got a message like this? Paste the message or link Check it free ### Still unsure? Describe what happened and our AI assistant will help, in any language. Ask TapSafely ### On this page 1. [How it works](#how) 2. [Red flags](#red-flags) 3. [What to do](#what-to-do) 4. [Can I rely on spotting glitches?](#s0) 5. [If you already paid](#already-paid) 6. [Questions](#faq) 7. [Sources](#sources) ### Seen this scam? Your report helps warn people in your area. [Report it](https://tapsafely.com/report?category=investment) ## Related guides [Guide ### AI voice-clone emergency calls Scammers can now copy a family member's voice with AI and call you with a fake emergency. Learn the signs and the simple… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/ai-voice-clone-calls)[Guide ### Crypto and investment scams Guaranteed returns, deepfake celebrity ads and platforms that won't let you withdraw. How investment scams work and how … Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/crypto-investment-scams)[Guide ### Romance scams An online partner who can't meet or video call, then needs money. Learn the warning signs of romance scams and how to ta… Read guide](https://tapsafely.com/scams/romance-scams)