$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 job interview scam
Scammers use AI deepfake technology to impersonate hiring managers during video interviews, collecting personal information and upfront fees from job seekers for positions that do not exist.
“deepfake scam”
↑ 495%Key indicators
Usually targetsJob seekers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
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 post fake job listings on legitimate platforms and use deepfake video to impersonate a real employee during the interview.
2
After a brief fake interview, the victim is offered the job and asked to provide their Social Security number, bank details, or pay upfront fees.
3
The scammers use harvested personal information for identity theft or simply disappear with the fees.
What to do first
Verify the interviewer's identity by contacting the company directly through their official website.
Related terms
AI hiring manager impersonationdeepfake recruiter scamAI deepfake scamsVideo callRisingJob seekersRemote workersRecent graduatesFreelancers and contractorsPayroll, HR, and finance teamsTech workers and developersUnited StatesUnited KingdomCanadaAI hiring manager impersonationdeepfake recruiter scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Megan, 29, a job seekers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate ai deepfake scams situation while using Video call. Scammers post fake job listings on legitimate platforms and use deepfake video to impersonate a real employee during the interview.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: After a brief fake interview, the victim is offered the job and asked to provide their Social Security number, bank details, or pay upfront fees.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The scammers use harvested personal information for identity theft or simply disappear with the fees.
The outcome
Megan realized something was wrong when interviewer's video has slight lag or visual artifacts around the face and hair. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify the interviewer's identity by contacting the company directly through their official website. Megan's experience shows why interviewer's video has slight lag or visual artifacts around the face and hair and job offer is extended immediately after a brief interview with minimal questions are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Interviewer's video has slight lag or visual artifacts around the face and hair
- Job offer is extended immediately after a brief interview with minimal questions
- You are asked to pay for equipment, training, or background check fees upfront
- 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 the interviewer's identity by contacting the company directly through their official website.
- ✓Never pay upfront fees for a job — legitimate employers do not charge for equipment or background checks.
- ✓Report fake job listings to the platform and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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.
- The FBI warned in 2022 that complaints about deepfake-assisted remote job interview scams had increased significantly, with fraudsters using stolen identities of real employees.
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 the interviewer's identity by contacting the company directly through their official website.
- ✓Never pay upfront fees for a job — legitimate employers do not charge for equipment or background checks.
- ✓Report fake job listings to the platform and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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.
The FBI warned in 2022 that complaints about deepfake-assisted remote job interview scams had increased significantly, with fraudsters using stolen identities of real employees.
FBI IC3 Public Service Announcement 2022
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
Job seekers, Remote workers, Recent graduates
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India
Primary channel
Video call — AI deepfake scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Job seekers 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
- The FBI warned in 2022 that complaints about deepfake-assisted remote job interview scams had increased significantly, with fraudsters using stolen identities of real employees.
Source notes
- FBI IC3 Public Service Announcement 2022
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about deepfake job interview scam
How does the deepfake job interview scam work?+
Scammers post fake job listings on legitimate platforms and use deepfake video to impersonate a real employee during the interview. After a brief fake interview, the victim is offered the job and asked to provide their Social Security number, bank details, or pay upfront fees. The scammers use harvested personal information for identity theft or simply disappear with the fees.
What are the warning signs of deepfake job interview scam?+
Interviewer's video has slight lag or visual artifacts around the face and hair Job offer is extended immediately after a brief interview with minimal questions You are asked to pay for equipment, training, or background check fees upfront
What should I do if I encounter deepfake job interview scam?+
Verify the interviewer's identity by contacting the company directly through their official website. Never pay upfront fees for a job — legitimate employers do not charge for equipment or background checks. Report fake job listings to the platform and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Who is most at risk for deepfake job interview scam?+
This scam primarily targets Job seekers, Remote workers, Recent graduates. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India and typically appears on Video call.
Is deepfake job interview scam on the rise?+
deepfake job interview scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, UK, CA, IN. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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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.