A New Dangerous Scam: The Missed Video Call

Deepfake video calls are the new phishing email. Here’s how to spot and avoid them

The world of cybercrime is always evolving, and scams that seemed far-fetched a few years ago are now a daily reality. Phishing emails, where criminals impersonate trusted coworkers or loved ones, have cost businesses and individuals billions.

But now, a more advanced threat is emerging, one that exploits rapid advances in artificial intelligence: deepfake video calls.

Imagine getting a video call from your boss, an employee, or even a family member, urgently demanding information or money. You see their face and hear their voice, so it must be real, right? Not anymore.

This article explores the alarming rise of deepfake video call scams, why they work, how to spot them, and how you can protect yourself, your loved ones, and your organization.

The evolution of phishing: from email to deepfake video calls

For years, the most common online scam was phishing, in which attackers pose as someone trustworthy in emails to trick victims into surrendering passwords, money, or personal data. Organizations trained employees to check sender addresses, scrutinize URLs, and avoid suspicious links.

But technology has raced ahead. With the increasing capability and accessibility of artificial intelligence (AI), criminals have started harnessing these tools to create “deepfakes”—synthetic media that look and sound like real people.

Deepfake technology allows scammers to create convincing audio and video forgeries. Once confined to tech labs and movie studios, these tools are now readily available and can be used to produce realistic fakes in minutes. In the wrong hands, deepfakes have turned the once-simple scam email into a full-fledged multimedia fraud.

One of the most concerning developments is the “deepfake video call” scam, where fraudsters use deepfakes to impersonate people you know and trust through video conferencing platforms, creating an illusion of credibility that is hard to dismiss.

What are deepfake video calls?

Deepfakes are highly realistic forgeries generated by AI, mimicking how a person looks, moves, and sounds. Using hundreds or thousands of images or audio clips from social media and the internet, deepfake algorithms learn to replicate faces and voices with astonishing accuracy.

Key methods of deepfake creation

• Face swapping: Mapping one person’s face onto another’s video feed.
• Voice cloning: Reproducing a person’s voice and speech patterns using audio samples.
• Full-body animation: Animating an entire body to behave like the impersonated person.

While originally developed for creative uses like enhancing film effects, criminals abuse the technology to scam people for financial gain.

How the “missed video call” scams work

How have criminals adapted this technology for real-world scams? Here’s a common scenario:

1. Initial contact: You receive an email, message, or notification that you missed a video call from someone you know—perhaps your company’s CEO, HR director, IT administrator, or even a family member.

2. Follow-up: The sender insists on quickly rescheduling through your preferred platform, such as Zoom, Teams, or WhatsApp.

3. The deepfake video call: When you join, you see and hear the person you expected. But this person is not who they appear to be—it’s a deepfake. The impersonator launches into a plausible story: there’s an emergency, you must wire money, reveal secure credentials, or send sensitive documents.

4. Manipulation: The deepfake creates a sense of urgency, demands quick action, and deters you from confirming details through alternative channels.

5. The sting: Money transfers are made, sensitive data is handed over, or systems are compromised, all under the guise of someone you trust.

Types of deepfake scams

• Business email compromise: Traditional email requests for wire transfers, now backed up with fake video calls from senior executives.
• Family emergency: A “relative” deepfakes a video call claiming to be in trouble and needs immediate help.
• Fake authorities: Scammers impersonate government officials or law enforcement, using video to give their scams extra weight.

$25 Million heist with a deepfake CFO

Recently, a multinational company was deceived by scammers who used a deepfake of the CFO during a video call. Trusted employees, convinced they were speaking with the actual executive, obediently wired $25 million to overseas accounts.

This brazen crime shocked the cybersecurity world, showing just how vulnerable businesses are when criminals exploit personal trust and modern technology.

Deepfake audio robocalls

Deepfake technology is now being used to automate millions of scam phone calls—often faking the voices of government officials, company reps, or loved ones. These robocalls can manipulate emotions powerfully and efficiently, tricking unsuspecting victims into sharing private information or sending funds.

The broader consequences

More than just a financial setback, deepfake scams leave lasting and serious effects:

• Damaged trust: Relationships between employees, executives, and clients can be damaged.
• Reputational harm: Victims may lose the confidence of investors, partners, or customers.
• Ongoing vulnerability: Once a scam is successful, organizations often face repeat attacks or blackmail.

One must now approach all communications, including real-time video calls, with increased skepticism due to the presence of deepfakes.

How to spot a deepfake video call

While deepfakes are rapidly improving, they are not perfect yet. You can still spot clues if you know what to look for.

Visual and audio inconsistencies

• Lip-syncing errors: Watch closely for minor mismatches between speech and lip movements, especially with complex words or quick speech.
• Unnatural blinking: Early deepfakes often failed to portray natural blinking; more advanced fakes still sometimes make random eye movements or facial expressions seem “off.”
• Lighting and skin tone issues: Lighting can look inconsistent with the environment, and skin texture may appear unnaturally smooth or plasticky.
• Audio-video delay: Sometimes, the voice lags behind or is ahead of the image.

Behavioral red flags

• Unusual requests: Common sense applies: would your boss really ask for sensitive passwords or a sudden wire transfer over an unscheduled call?
• Urgency and pressure: Scammers try to bypass your rational thinking by creating a sense of immediate crisis.
• Unorthodox communication channels: A sudden switch from regular work accounts to personal apps or unfamiliar services should raise alarm bells.

Verification steps

• Call back on a known number: If you suspect anything, hang up and call the person directly using a verified number—it only takes a minute to confirm authenticity.
• Ask personal questions: Pose questions the real person would instantly know but an impersonator wouldn’t (such as a running office joke or recent project reference).
• Multiple participants: Invite a third person to join unexpectedly. Deepfakes are often customized for 1:1 conversations; group calls are much harder for scammers to manage.

Best practices for protecting yourself and your organization

1. Education is the first line of defense

Train yourself, your employees, and your loved ones:

• Regular workshops on deepfake awareness.
• Discuss real-world scam stories (like those mentioned above).
• Teach skepticism: “If it seems odd, it probably is.”

2. Multi-factor verification

Never rely solely on audio/video for high-risk requests. Implement protocols:

• Always confirm via a second channel—phone, email, or in-person.
• Require dual approvals for sensitive tasks, especially financial transactions.

3. Technical solutions

• Invest in deepfake detection tools: Several companies now offer AI-powered solutions that analyze voice and video streams for irregularities.
• Enhance IT security measures: Limit data publicly shared by executives, especially video/audio on social media.
• Update software: Keep apps and platforms patched to close vulnerabilities.

4. Report and escalate quickly

If you suspect you’ve encountered a deepfake scam:

• Alert your IT or security team immediately.
• Report it to law enforcement or a trusted cybercrime unit.
• Inform coworkers or family to prevent others from falling victim.

Older adults and vulnerable populations: A special risk

Deepfake scams are a menace to everyone, but some groups are especially vulnerable.

Why are older adults at greater risk?

• They may be less familiar with video-call technology and recent advances in AI.
• Scammers often impersonate family members, exploiting emotional bonds.

How to protect older adults from scams?

• Conduct community discussions or show webinars at senior centers.
• Share real stories and run role-playing exercises to help recognize suspicious behavior.
• Encourage older users to never act on urgent requests for money or information during unsolicited calls, even if the caller appears to be someone they know.

The road ahead: Adapting to the evolving deepfake threat

Deepfakes aren’t science fiction anymore; they’re showing up in your inbox, your video calls, and sometimes even pretending to be your boss. What used to require Hollywood-level tech and expertise is now within reach for just about anyone with a decent internet connection and a bad idea.

Cybersecurity today isn’t just about strong passwords and antivirus software. It’s about developing a healthy sense of digital skepticism. Yes, trust still matters, but we now need to pair it with solid habits of verification.

Protect yourself, verify before you trust

If you’re ever uncertain about who’s contacting you, BeenVerified gives you the tools to try to check identities and avoid scams. BeenVerified subscriptions include 8 powerful products for the price of one:

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If you receive a suspicious call, missed message, or deepfake video, don’t leave your safety to chance—verify before you trust.

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