AI Deepfakes: FBI Warns of New Threat Against U.S. Officials

Artificial intelligence (AI) is now ubiquitous. Its capabilities impress with their efficiency. However, in the hands of malicious individuals, it can quickly turn into a powerful tool for harm. The FBI has recently focused on a worrying phenomenon: scammers using AI to create vocal and visual deepfakes. These convincing fakes are used to manipulate and steal sensitive data. The American agency warns about these new threats, which affect public figures and key players in crypto.

AI and deepfakes: the new wave of targeted scams according to the FBI

Since April 2025, the FBI has observed a rise in attacks combining smishing, vishing, and deepfakes. These techniques rely on fraudulent text messages and AI-generated synthetic voices. Scammers impersonate high-ranking American officials to deceive their victims. This strategy establishes a trust relationship before attempting to steal sensitive data. The FBI warns:

If you receive a message claiming to come from a high-ranking American official, do not assume it is authentic.

The issue goes beyond simple data theft. Once accounts are compromised, hackers use the recovered contacts to target other victims. This chain propagation threatens the integrity of entire government networks. Furthermore, scammers often direct victims to controlled platforms where malicious links siphon off credentials and passwords.

The FBI recommends increased vigilance, especially regarding unknown links or unusual requests.

Prominent figures in crypto in the crosshairs

Deepfakes do not only affect governmental spheres. Several crypto industry leaders have revealed they are targeted by these attacks. Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, recently shared his alarming experience. Impostors hacked a collaborator’s Telegram account and organized fake Zoom videoconferences.

These meetings included deepfakes of Nailwal and other key members. The attackers then requested the installation of malware, endangering the participants’ devices.

This sophisticated method relies on AI to falsify voices and images, making scams difficult to detect. Nailwal warns:

Never install anything on your computer during an interaction initiated by someone else.

This warning reflects the urgency to adopt cautious behavior in the face of these new forms of fraud. Other personalities, such as Dovey Wan, confirm the alarming rise of these criminal-use deepfakes.

Protecting your data in the AI era: FBI advice to avoid traps

Faced with these threats, the FBI provides practical recommendations to reduce risks. Here are the key tips to remember:

• Always verify the identity of the sender or caller through an independent channel;
• Carefully examine addresses, numbers, URLs, and spelling errors which often betray impersonation;
• Pay attention to visual details: distorted images, unnatural movements, or out-of-sync voices;
• Never click on a link received from an unknown or unverified contact;
• Enable multi-factor authentication on all your sensitive accounts and never share codes.

These measures may seem basic, but they constitute a first line of defense against the exploitation of AI by criminals. Additionally, it is advised to reserve a device dedicated solely to managing crypto wallets. This precaution limits the risks related to accidental malware installation.

The FBI reminds that AI technology, while powerful, requires constant vigilance. Deepfakes, cleverly combining images and voices, gain realism and complexity. It thus becomes essential to educate and raise awareness among professionals and the general public about these dangers.

Deepfakes have already caused famous victims, Elon Musk notably, illustrating the scale of the global phenomenon. AI, a double-edged sword, disrupts the rules of digital trust. In this context, innovative solutions are emerging. Among them, Verify, a tool developed jointly by Fox and Polygon. This blockchain-based system aims to authenticate content and communications, offering an effective shield against AI manipulations. It stands as a promising avenue to preserve integrity in a rapidly evolving digital world.