What’s it like to receive a phone call to say, “I need you to quickly transfer some funds,” and that person sounds just like your boss, but it is not your boss? Or somebody constructing a complete and realistic video of you stating something you never said? This is not science fiction, this is reality and the domain of synthetic identities and deepfake threats, and it is quickly becoming the norm.
Earlier, I wrote about this growing threat in my blog, AI-Powered Voice & Video Scams, when I presented a few real-world examples of how scammers are taking advantage of AI tools to impersonate someone’s voice or make videos. This blog is intended to build upon that awareness to articulate synthetic identities and deepfakes and what you can do to protect yourself from them.
What Are Synthetic Identities?
Synthetic identity fraud happens when attackers combine real and fake information to create a new, fictitious identity. For example:
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They might use a real Social Security Number / Aadhaar Number (often stolen from a child or elderly person) with a fake name, date of birth, and address.
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This synthetic profile looks legitimate enough to pass many automated checks and can be used to open bank accounts, apply for credit cards, or commit other financial crimes.
Synthetic identities are hard to detect because:
- They’re not linked to real people in a way that raises immediate red flags.
- Credit bureaus might create a new file when they see a new combination of data.
- Victims often don’t find out until years later.
What Are Deepfakes?
Deepfakes are AI-generated fake media — photos, videos, or audio that convincingly imitate real people’s faces, voices, or gestures.
They use deep learning, a type of artificial intelligence, to swap faces, mimic voices, or make someone appear to say or do something they never did.
Deepfake technology has advanced so much that:
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Videos can look extremely realistic even to trained eyes.
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Voice deepfakes can clone a person’s speech with just a few minutes of audio.
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Tools to create deepfakes are publicly available online.
Common Terms Explained
- Synthetic Identity – A fake identity made by combining real and fake information.
- Deepfake – AI-created fake images, videos, or audio imitating real people.
- Voice Cloning – Using AI to generate speech in a specific person’s voice.
- Social Engineering – Psychological tricks to manipulate people into giving up confidential information or doing something harmful.
- Phishing – Fraudulent messages (email, text, calls) pretending to be from trusted sources to steal data or money.
- Verification – The process of proving someone’s identity (e.g., 2FA, biometrics).
Why Are These Threats So Dangerous?
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For individuals: Criminals can blackmail people with fake videos, ruin reputations, or commit identity theft.
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For businesses: Deepfakes can impersonate executives in phishing attacks, trick employees into transferring funds, or manipulate stock prices with fake announcements.
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For society: Deepfakes can spread misinformation during elections, fuel conspiracy theories, and undermine trust in media.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
For Individuals:
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Be skeptical of unexpected calls, emails, or messages — especially those involving money or personal information.
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Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible.
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Regularly check your credit report for suspicious accounts.
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Keep your social media privacy settings tight to limit voice or photo samples available to attackers.
For Businesses:
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Educate employees about deepfake and social engineering scams.
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Implement strict verification processes for financial transactions (e.g., callbacks on a trusted number).
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Use tools that can detect deepfakes — several companies offer AI-powered detection solutions.
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Monitor social media and news outlets for fake content involving your brand or executives.
For Everyone:
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Promote awareness — the more people know about these threats, the harder it becomes for attackers to succeed.
Conclusion
Synthetic identities and deepfakes aren’t futuristic ideas — they’re real threats today, and they’re only getting more sophisticated. By understanding how they work and taking proactive measures, we can better prepare ourselves, our families, and our organizations for this new normal.
Stay alert, verify everything, and help spread awareness — because the best defense against deception is education.
Source: Read MoreÂ