Don’t get fooled online: your guide to staying safe from deepfake digital scams

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Deepfake frauds are among the newest threats targeting digital users, with technology advancing at lightning speed. These scams use highly realistic fake audio or video that might even trick people into sending money, sharing OTPs, or approving payment requests. The danger lies in the fact that they can create a video or audio clip of someone close to you and may thus appear quite genuine. As UPI continues to be the most convenient way to send and receive money, here's how such scams work and how you can keep yourself safe before being taken for a complete ride.

Most Deepfake digital frauds begin when fraudsters use artificial intelligence to emulate somebody's speech or appearance. They send messages or make calls pretending to be one's friend, relative, colleague, or even a bank representative. They try to rush you into making immediate payments or revealing sensitive details. Because the audio and video are clear, many persons do not realise that they are being manipulated. Knowing that these scams can appear to involve people with whom you are familiar helps in keeping you alert when something feels out of place.

Stop and think, even if the voice sounds familiar. If someone requests a payment or asks you to transfer money urgently, confirm it through another channel. Call them back from a number you have saved yourself, or send a message. Often, fraudsters create urgency by telling you that it's an emergency or that the transaction needs to be done now. Slowing down and verification independently are the most powerful defences against being misled.

Fraudsters call you using deepfakes, asking you either to click on links or share your screen with them. Once you do it, they can watch you enter your PIN, read your messages, or make any transaction. Keep away from clicking on unknown links, which may be coming from your friend's account. Also, never give remote access to applications like, banking apps, or your SMS inbox. No genuine institution will ask you to install an unknown app or want you to share your screen to resolve any issue.

Revealing PIN under compulsion is one of the biggest mistakes people do. However genuine-sounding the call or message might be, your bank will never ask for your PIN, OTP, or debit card number. Scammers depend on an emotional trigger or urgent request that causes you to slip up. Your PIN is for your privacy, and allowing a collect request sans verification about who has sent it invites instant financial loss.

Because deepfake technology will continually change, the scams will also change. Educate yourself through official bank announcements, news sources you trust, and awareness campaigns. Many mobile banking apps publish notifications regarding current fraud trends; don't ignore those messages. The more you understand how fraudsters operate, the simpler it gets to catch suspicious behavior in an instant.

If a call or message sounds slightly strange, rushed, or urgent, then this is a sure-fire warning. Even slight changes in tone, background noise, or phrases can signal something is off. Trust your instincts and disengage from the call if anything makes you feel uncomfortable. When in doubt, disconnect and verify. One moment of caution may save you from losing money to an otherwise sophisticated scheme that seems like the real thing but isn't.