Story perspectives

Deepfake Scams Surge 520%: Sharjah Police Warn Residents

12/11/2025

Summary

Story summary

Deepfake scams rose over 520% in 2025 as scammers use artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate with convincing audio and video.
Sharjah Police urge residents to verify urgent requests through secondary channels.
Scammers often impersonate distressed family members to pressure quick actions and show signs like unnatural blinking.
Detection methods include requesting real-time actions and using Microsoft Video Authenticator.
Financial institutions are lagging, with 20% equipped to identify AI-generated voice scams.

History

Historical Context

Since the launch of the "FakeApp" in January 2018, deepfake technology has rapidly evolved, raising alarms about misinformation and fraud. By 2023, deepfake scams surged over 520%, contributing to an estimated $12 billion in global fraud losses. With only 20% of financial institutions equipped to detect these scams, the urgency for enhanced digital security measures has never been clearer.

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Story summary

Deepfake scams rose over 520% in 2025 as scammers use artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate with convincing audio and video.
Sharjah Police urge residents to verify urgent requests through secondary channels.
Scammers often impersonate distressed family members to pressure quick actions and show signs like unnatural blinking.
Detection methods include requesting real-time actions and using Microsoft Video Authenticator.
Financial institutions are lagging, with 20% equipped to identify AI-generated voice scams.

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