$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
AI deepfake scams/Video call
deepfake CEO video call scam
Criminals use real-time AI deepfake technology to impersonate a company CEO on a video call, instructing employees to wire funds or share sensitive data under the guise of an urgent business matter.
“deepfake scam”
↑ 495%Key indicators
Usually targetsFinance employees
Often hitsPayroll, HR, and finance teams
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$1.4K
median reported loss
Typical range$90 – $9.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers gather publicly available video and audio of a company CEO from earnings calls, interviews, and social media.
2
Using real-time deepfake software, they impersonate the CEO on a live video call with a finance department employee.
3
Under pressure of urgency and authority, the employee wires funds to accounts controlled by the scammers before verifying through independent channels.
What to do first
Verify any unusual financial requests through a separate, known communication channel such as a direct phone call.
Related terms
AI CEO impersonationdeepfake executive fraudAI deepfake scamsVideo callRisingFinance employeesExecutivesCorporate staffPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesUnited KingdomHong KongAI CEO impersonationdeepfake executive fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Mark, 35, a finance employees, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate ai deepfake scams situation while using Video call. Scammers gather publicly available video and audio of a company CEO from earnings calls, interviews, and social media.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: Using real-time deepfake software, they impersonate the CEO on a live video call with a finance department employee.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: Under pressure of urgency and authority, the employee wires funds to accounts controlled by the scammers before verifying through independent channels.
The outcome
Mark realized something was wrong when unscheduled video call from ceo requesting urgent wire transfer. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify any unusual financial requests through a separate, known communication channel such as a direct phone call. Mark's experience shows why unscheduled video call from ceo requesting urgent wire transfer and ceo asks to bypass normal approval processes citing confidentiality are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Unscheduled video call from CEO requesting urgent wire transfer
- CEO asks to bypass normal approval processes citing confidentiality
- Slight lip-sync delays or unnatural head movements on the video feed
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify any unusual financial requests through a separate, known communication channel such as a direct phone call.
- ✓Establish a company-wide code word or multi-person approval policy for large transfers.
- ✓Report the incident to your IT security team and local law enforcement immediately.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- In February 2024, a Hong Kong finance worker was tricked into transferring 25 million USD after a deepfake video call impersonating the company CFO and other colleagues.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Verify any unusual financial requests through a separate, known communication channel such as a direct phone call.
- ✓Establish a company-wide code word or multi-person approval policy for large transfers.
- ✓Report the incident to your IT security team and local law enforcement immediately.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
In February 2024, a Hong Kong finance worker was tricked into transferring 25 million USD after a deepfake video call impersonating the company CFO and other colleagues.
Hong Kong Police Force 2024, CNN reporting
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Finance employees, Executives, Corporate staff
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore
Primary channel
Video call — AI deepfake scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Finance employees are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- In February 2024, a Hong Kong finance worker was tricked into transferring 25 million USD after a deepfake video call impersonating the company CFO and other colleagues.
Source notes
- Hong Kong Police Force 2024, CNN reporting
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about deepfake ceo video call scam
How does the deepfake ceo video call scam work?+
Scammers gather publicly available video and audio of a company CEO from earnings calls, interviews, and social media. Using real-time deepfake software, they impersonate the CEO on a live video call with a finance department employee. Under pressure of urgency and authority, the employee wires funds to accounts controlled by the scammers before verifying through independent channels.
What are the warning signs of deepfake ceo video call scam?+
Unscheduled video call from CEO requesting urgent wire transfer CEO asks to bypass normal approval processes citing confidentiality Slight lip-sync delays or unnatural head movements on the video feed
What should I do if I encounter deepfake ceo video call scam?+
Verify any unusual financial requests through a separate, known communication channel such as a direct phone call. Establish a company-wide code word or multi-person approval policy for large transfers. Report the incident to your IT security team and local law enforcement immediately.
Who is most at risk for deepfake ceo video call scam?+
This scam primarily targets Finance employees, Executives, Corporate staff. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore and typically appears on Video call.
Is deepfake ceo video call scam on the rise?+
deepfake CEO video call scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, HK, SG. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Email phishing scams
↑ 80%CEO urgent request phishing scam
An email appears to come from a company executive urgently requesting a wire transfer, gift card purchase, or sensitive data, exploiting the recipient's desire to comply with authority.
What to do first
Always verify unusual financial or data requests through a separate communication channel — call the executive directly.
Targets
Office workers
Seen in
U.S.
Email phishing scams
↑ 80%invoice attachment malware scam
An email with a fake invoice attachment installs malware when opened, giving attackers access to the victim's computer and network.
What to do first
Never open attachments from unknown senders — verify invoices by contacting the vendor directly.
Targets
Office workers
Seen in
U.S.
Email phishing scams
↑ 80%two-factor authentication bypass phishing scam
Attackers use real-time phishing toolkits to capture both passwords and two-factor authentication codes simultaneously, defeating standard MFA protections.
What to do first
Use hardware security keys (FIDO2/WebAuthn) which are resistant to real-time phishing proxy attacks.
Targets
IT administrators
Seen in
U.S.
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.