National Cybersecurity Awareness Month: How to Protect Yourself from Deepfakes

As we recognize National Cybersecurity Awareness Month this October, it's the perfect time to sharpen our digital defenses and stay informed about emerging threats. One of the most alarming – and increasingly common – cyber risks today is the rise of deepfakes.

What Is a deepfake?
A deepfake is synthetic media created using artificial intelligence. By mimicking a person’s voice, facial expressions, and movements, these clips can look and sound incredibly real—even when they’re entirely fake.

How Are Deepfakes Made?
Cybercriminals use AI tools trained on large amounts of publicly available data – like photos, videos, and voice recordings – to build realistic impersonations. The more content they can find about a person online, the easier it is to create a believable deepfake.

Real-World Examples

Cryptocurrency Scam: A deepfake video of Elon Musk was used to promote a fake crypto investment, leading one individual to lose $690,000.
Grandparent Scam: Scammers have used deepfake audio to impersonate loved ones in distress, tricking people into sending money. One woman received a call from someone claiming to be her grandson, saying he was in jail and needed help.

How to Protect Yourself

Look Closely: Watch for robotic facial movements, lip-sync errors, or odd smudging around facial features in images.
Check the Source: Only trust content from reputable outlets and be sure to always verify authenticity.
Use Safe Words: Establish a secret phrase with family or close contacts. If you receive an urgent message or call, asking for the safe word can help confirm the person’s identity.

Remember: Not everything you see or hear online is real. Stay alert and think twice before believing or sharing suspicious content.

For more on how to safeguard yourself and your finances, check out our fraud resources. Have questions about text message scams? Please let us know.