FBI Alerts on AI Deepfake Scams Targeting Fraud Victims

The FBI issued a public service announcement on July 20, 2026, warning about a sophisticated scam where fraudsters impersonate FBI personnel using AI-generated deepfake videos and spoofed websites. These scammers target individuals who have previously reported scams, falsely claiming to assist in recovering lost funds. The IC3 reported over 1 million complaints in 2025, with losses exceeding $20.877 billion, highlighting the growing impact of such scams. Victims aged 60 and older are particularly affected, reporting the highest financial losses. The FBI emphasized that it does not communicate through social media or offer fund recovery services and urged users to verify URLs directly. The use of deepfake technology has made these scams more convincing, with scammers creating realistic videos of FBI officials. The IC3 does not maintain a social media presence and never requests payment for recovery services.

Key Points: • Scammers use AI deepfake videos to impersonate FBI officials and defraud victims. • Victims aged 60 and older are the primary targets, suffering the highest financial losses. • The IC3 warns that it does not communicate via social media or offer fund recovery services.