Protecting your Business from Deepfake Scams
MAINSTREET BANK
As artificial intelligence continues to rapidly advance, so do the deceptive tactics used by cybercriminals leveraging AI to commit fraud. One emerging threat is the use of deepfakes to target small businesses. Deepfake technology uses AI to create audio and videos that mimic the appearance and voice of real people with startling accuracy. Deepfakes are highly realistic and can make it appear as though someone is saying or doing something they never did. Cybercriminals can use deepfakes to impersonate you or someone else in your company in an attempt to trick your employees into transferring funds, granting account access or sharing sensitive information. For example, they can call one of your employees using deepfake audio that sounds just like you and ask them to wire funds into an account. Since deepfakes are so realistic, your employee might believe the call is legitimate and comply with the request.
As deepfakes become more sophisticated and accessible, small businesses must take proactive measures to defend against deepfake fraud. Here are a few steps you can take to safeguard your business.
- Learn How to Spot a Deepfake: While deepfakes are highly realistic, they’re far from perfect. There are a few telltale signs of audio and video deepfakes:
- Audio: Listen for longer-than-usual pauses between words and sentences. The person’s voice may also sound flat and emotionless. If it sounds off, it likely is.
- Video: Watch out for unnatural eye movements, patchy skin tones, odd lighting, awkward postures or body movements and poor lip syncing.
- Educate your Team: Educate your employees about deepfakes and how to identify them. Train them to verify any unusual requests, especially those involving financial transactions or sensitive data. Many cyberattacks are successful because of human error, so encourage employees to trust their gut and raise concerns whenever they’re unsure of a request.
- Establish Clear Procedures for Financial Requests: Make sure that employees know exactly which members of your team can request financial transactions, how they will make the request, and how requests can be validated internally. Enroll in dual control which requires more than one employee to initiate specific transactions.
- Enhance Cybersecurity Measures: Establish strong authentication protocols for access to sensitive data, systems and accounts. Implement multi-factor authentication or biometrics verification to minimize the risk of unauthorized access.
- Stay Informed: Stay up to date with the latest advancements in deepfake technology and cybersecurity. Awareness is key to staying one step ahead of scammers.
Deepfake scams can pose a significant threat to your small business, but by being vigilant and proactive, you can protect your organization from falling victim to these deceptive tactics.
