How Deepfake Phishing Attacks Work: A New Cyber Crime Threat
11 July, 2025
Synopsis
Deepfake-powered phishing attacks use AI to impersonate trusted individuals and deceive targets.
Be cautious of any messages or videos that pressure you to act immediately, especially when it involves your finances.
Staying aware of these frauds is necessary to mitigate the risk of falling victim to them.
Phishing has been around for quite some time – it is a fraudulent tactic where attackers pose as legitimate entities, often through emails or messages, to trick you into providing sensitive information like passwords or financial details. The goal is usually to steal personal data, money or access to your accounts. On the other hand, you have artificial intelligence that lets you alter images, videos, mimic voices, morph faces, etc. Cybercriminals are using phishing and AI to mimic bank executives to steal your financial data. Keep reading to know about this deepfake-driven cybercrime.
What is Deepfake-Powered Phishing Attacks?
Deepfake-powered phishing attacks combine the deceptive elements of traditional phishing with AI-generated deepfakes to create more believable and personalised frauds. These deepfakes can take the form of videos or audio clips that mimic a trusted person, such as a bank executive, company CEO or family member. The goal is to manipulate you into sharing confidential information or performing unauthorised actions. Criminals can now not only mimic the appearance or voice of a trusted person but also replicate their speech patterns and behaviors, making the impersonation almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
How Does Deepfake Phishing Work?
Here’s how a deepfake phishing attack generally unfolds:
Data Collection: Once a target is identified, the attacker gathers information. This could include publicly available data such as videos, social media posts or voice clips of the person they intend to impersonate. The more data they collect, the more realistic the deepfake becomes.
Creating the Deepfake: Using AI tools, the fraudster creates a deepfake video or audio clip that mimics the target person—this could be a bank representative, a company executive or someone you trust.
Delivering the Phishing Attack: The deepfake is then delivered via email, video call, voicemail, or even text messages. You may receive a fake video of a bank executive instructing you to authorise a payment, or an audio message from someone posing as a family member in need of urgent financial help.
Execution of the Fraud: If you believe the deepfake, you might hand over your banking credentials, make unauthorised transfers or reveal personal information.
How To Spot Deepfake Phishing
Here are some key tips on how to spot deepfake attacks:
Unusual Requests from Trusted Sources: Be wary of any unexpected or unusual requests from people you trust, especially when it involves sensitive financial information or transactions. A sudden call or video from your bank asking for your login credentials or requesting that you transfer money should raise immediate red flags.
Look for Signs of Video or Audio Manipulation: While deepfakes can be highly convincing, they are not perfect. Look closely for visual cues such as awkward facial movements, unnatural blinking or out-of-sync audio and video. Similarly, if a voice sounds slightly off, robotic or contains strange intonations, you may be dealing with a deepfake.
Verify the Source: Before taking any action, always verify the authenticity of the request through a separate, trusted channel. Call your bank directly using an official phone number to confirm the legitimacy of the request.
Be Suspicious of Urgency: Fraudsters often try to create a sense of urgency to prevent you from thinking things through. Be cautious of any messages or videos that pressure you to act immediately, especially when it involves your finances.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Protect your accounts by enabling two-factor authentication wherever possible. Even if a fraudster manages to deceive you into revealing your password, 2FA provides an additional layer of security that can prevent unauthorised access.
Keep Yourself Informed On Deepfake-Powered Phishing Attacks
Deepfake-powered phishing attacks are a growing concern, with the potential to cause significant financial damage. By understanding how these frauds work and learning to recognise the warning signs, you can protect yourself from falling victim to this new form of cybercrime.
Join Vigil Army, where Vigil Aunty will decode various frauds and give people a heads-up on the dos and don’ts of combating frauds online. To join the Vigil Army, send ‘Hi’ to her via WhatsApp number: 7290030000.
*Disclaimer: Terms and conditions apply. The information provided in this article is generic in nature and for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for specific advice in your own circumstances.
