I was tricked by an AI deepfake or voice clone scam — what do I do?
Report to the FBI's IC3 and FTC, secure any compromised accounts, and contact your bank if money was transferred. AI-assisted fraud is an enforcement priority.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
AI-powered scams use synthetic voice cloning and deepfake video to impersonate trusted individuals — family members, executives, or government officials — making scam communications more convincing than ever. You may have been deceived by a voice that sounded exactly like a family member claiming an emergency, or a video call that appeared to show your company's CEO authorizing an urgent payment.
Regardless of how convincing the deception was, the financial recovery steps are the same as for the underlying fraud type. If money was wired, call your bank immediately for a recall. If paid by gift card, call the issuer. If your account credentials were compromised, change them from a different device. The AI element does not create new recovery mechanisms, but it does strengthen your fraud case by demonstrating sophisticated deception.
Report to the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov — AI-assisted fraud is an active enforcement area, and the FBI asks specifically about voice or image manipulation in their reporting form. Also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If the deepfake impersonated a specific person (your CEO, a family member), notify that person — they may need to alert others who are targeted with the same impersonation.
For future protection: establish a 'safe word' with family members for genuine emergency calls; confirm unexpected financial requests from executives through a separate verified channel; and be highly skeptical of urgent requests that arrive via unfamiliar communication channels even when the voice or face seems familiar.
Common red flags
- Voice sounds exactly like someone you know but the request is unusual
- Video call with low resolution, slightly off lip sync, or unnatural blinking
- Executive 'video call' authorizes an unusual financial transaction
- Grandparent receives a call from a 'grandchild' with a slightly different voice quality
- Person you know sends a message from an unexpected platform asking for urgent help
- AI-generated image or video of a celebrity promoting an investment
What to do now
- Contact your bank immediately if any money was transferred
- File with the FBI's IC3 at ic3.gov — note the AI/deepfake aspect
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Notify the person whose likeness or voice was used
- Secure any accounts whose credentials were shared
- Establish verification protocols (safe words) with family and colleagues
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to detect an AI voice clone on a phone call?
Current AI voice clones can be very convincing over phone-quality audio. Detection is difficult in real time. The best protection is a pre-arranged 'safe word' that only you and the real person know, asked early in any suspicious call.
Can AI deepfakes be used as evidence that I was defrauded?
Yes — digital forensic analysis can often detect manipulation artifacts in synthetic media. Preserve any recordings, screenshots, or call logs as evidence. The FBI and some academic institutions have deepfake detection capabilities that can be applied in investigations.