What Are Deepfakes — and How to Spot Them
Understand AI-generated fake videos and images, and learn how to protect yourself from deepfake scams.
Start the guide
Start with the first step, try it on your own device, and use the next-step section at the end if you want a clear follow-on guide.
Guide details and who this is for
Guide details
- Published
- February 1, 2025
- Country scope
- Global
Who this is for
Best for people who want a plain-English explanation before trusting a new feature or trend.
Good to know
Try one step at a time on your own device. If something does not look right, stop there and ask for help before guessing.
Before you begin
What this guide helps you do
This guide explains the idea simply, what it can really do, and where the limits or risks usually are.
Best time to use it
Use it when you keep hearing the term and want a calm explanation before trusting hype or fear.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not assume a smart-sounding feature is always accurate, private, or necessary.
Helpful tech words
Open a plain-English term first if you need it
Cloud Computing
Using remote servers accessed over the internet to store, process, and manage data instead of a local computer.
Smart Speaker
A voice-activated speaker that can answer questions, play music, control smart home devices, and set reminders.
VPN (Virtual Private Network)
A service that helps keep your internet activity private and secure.
What Is a Deepfake?
A deepfake is a video, audio recording, or image that has been created or altered using AI to make it appear as though a real person said or did something they never actually did.
The word “deepfake” comes from “deep learning” (a type of AI) and “fake”.
Why deepfakes are a scam risk
Scammers use deepfakes to:
- Create fake videos of famous politicians or ministers promoting investment schemes.
- Generate fake audio of family members asking for urgent money transfers.
- Make fake celebrity endorsements for products or investments.
- Create fake customer testimonials using AI-generated faces.
How deepfakes are used in real scams
- Fabricated videos of politicians, business leaders, and celebrities have circulated on social media to promote fraudulent investments.
- Criminals also clone a relative’s voice and combine it with an urgent story to request money.
How to spot a deepfake
Deepfakes are getting better, but often have these telltale signs:
Visual clues:
- Blurring or distortion around the edges of the face or hair
- Unnatural eye blinking — too frequent or no blinking at all
- Skin texture that looks too smooth or slightly waxy
- Lips that do not quite match the words being spoken
- Background that seems inconsistent or distorted
Contextual clues:
- A real minister or celebrity is unlikely to promote cryptocurrency via a social media video
- The video appeared on an unofficial Facebook page or YouTube channel, not an official account
- It creates urgency — “Act now, limited spaces”
- The investment promises unrealistically high returns
What to do if you suspect a deepfake scam
- Do not invest or transfer money based on a video alone.
- Verify using official sources — search the organisation’s or person’s verified official website or social media account.
- Search a reputable fact-checking service for the person’s name and the claim.
- Report the scam to your national scam-reporting portal or anti-scam helpline.
The broader lesson
AI has made it possible to create very convincing fake content. The key protection is to verify independently before acting. Real investment opportunities, real emergencies, and real government instructions do not arrive via unsolicited social media videos.
If something feels urgent and asks for money or personal information, stop and verify through official channels.
[Government Service] Your account has been suspended. Click here to verify:
http://service-check-login.netlify.app/verify
Act within 24 hours or your account will be closed.
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