New ABA-FBI Infographic Helps Consumers Spot and Avoid Deepfake Media Scams

The American Bankers Association (ABA) Foundation, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has released a new infographic to raise public awareness about the escalating threat of deepfake scams. This release is part of the ABA Foundation’s broader initiative to equip consumers with education and fraud prevention resources.

The resource explains how AI-generated or digitally manipulated media, including images, video, and audio, can be used to impersonate trusted individuals. Criminals often pose as family members, government officials, law enforcement agents, or celebrities, exploiting fear and urgency to pressure victims into sending money or disclosing sensitive information.

According to the FBI, over 4.2 million fraud reports have been filed since 2020, resulting in more than $50.5 billion in losses. A growing share of these losses resulted from deepfake scams.

The infographic outlines common signs of deepfake content, including blurry or distorted facial features, unnatural blinking or facial movements, mismatched audio and video, flat or robotic voice tones, and odd lighting or shadows.

To help consumers stay safe, the infographic offers practical tips:

• Stop and think before responding to urgent or emotional requests. 
• Verify identities using trusted sources and reverse search tools.
• Create codewords with loved ones to confirm authenticity.
• Limit your digital footprint to reduce exposure.
• Report scams to the FBI at IC3.gov, your bank, and local law enforcement. 

Source: The American Bankers Association Foundation

As AI advances, scammers are increasingly leveraging deepfake technology to defraud investors. A recent example is the fake platform “QuantumAl,” promoted through deepfake videos. Global regulators, including New Zealand’s Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and Malaysia’s Securities Commission (SC), have issued warnings about the growing threat of deepfake-enabled investment fraud.