ThinkCritical.eu · Manipulation atlas
Images, video and accountsDeepfake
Images or a voice created or altered by AI to pass as a real person.
AI can now imitate a voice from a short recording and produce a video in which a well-known person says things they never said. Fraudsters use this in calls from “relatives in trouble” and in fake adverts where politicians or TV presenters recommend miracle investments.
Maria gets a call from an unknown number. The voice sounds exactly like her grandson: “Gran, I've had an accident, I need 3,000 right now. Don't tell anyone.” Maria hangs up and calls her grandson on the number she has saved. He's sitting in class and knows nothing about it.
How to spot it
- A familiar voice from an unfamiliar number, an emergency, time pressure and a request to keep it secret.
- A request for money: cash for a “courier”, a transfer to an unknown account, or cryptocurrency.
- In a video, the lip movements don't match the words, the edges of the face flicker or blur, and the voice sounds flat.
- A celebrity in an advert promises guaranteed profits or a “secret” way to get rich.
How to check and what to do
- Hang up and call back on the number you have saved, or ask for the family code word that only your family knows.
- On a video call, ask the person to turn their head sideways or pass a hand in front of their face – a faked image often distorts. Even this isn't a guarantee.
- Check any investment offer in your financial regulator's register of authorised firms. A famous face in an advert guarantees nothing.
- Don't hand over money. If in doubt, contact your local police; if you've already paid, call your bank immediately on the number on the back of your card.
Tip: Agree on a family code word in person and calmly – not when someone is already on the phone.
Full explanation and exercises:
thinkcritical.eu/en/manipulation-atlas/deepfake