FBI Warns: AI Deepfakes Amplify Scam Risks, Tax Season Scams in US Harder to Identify

FBI data shows that the popularity of AI technology has led to an increase in government impersonation scams. Scammers use deepfake videos, voice synthesis, and generative AI to impersonate officials or executives. They create realistic digital avatars using public audio and video materials and generate personalized scam messages automatically, making fraud more deceptive.

In 2024, the Hong Kong office of British engineering firm Arup was scammed out of HK$200 million (about $25 million) via an AI-faked video conference. During the US tax season, scammers often impersonate the IRS to demand urgent payments. That year, over 17,000 complaints were received for such scams, with losses exceeding $400 million.

Security experts warn that the public should be alert to messages demanding immediate payment, verify sources through official channels, and avoid clicking suspicious email or SMS links.