Sergei Golovanov, a prominent security expert associated with Kaspersky Lab, highlights an emerging threat on the horizon: real time social network fraud that can harness artificial intelligence to imitate voices and faces. In his view, criminals may unleash deepfake video and synthetic speech during live chats or video calls, impersonating trusted individuals at a pace that makes deception nearly seamless. Reports from RIA News echo his concerns, describing a scenario where a convincing image could appear on screen while the lips and voice are animated to align with the spoken dialogue in real time. Such techniques could spread across popular instant messaging apps, enabling widespread manipulation in the near future. Golovanov notes that there are already fraud patterns that rely on voice messages sent by perceived acquaintances who request urgent money transfers. He observes that the sometimes robotic tone of these messages can raise suspicion, yet as AI-generated voices become more natural, detecting deception becomes markedly harder.
Golovanov argues that the most effective defense against this evolving threat is proactive verification of both accounts and messages. Relying on human intuition or listening for a telltale difference in voice alone may no longer suffice, given how convincing synthetic audio can be. The key recommendation is to confirm the sender’s authenticity, especially before any financial requests are acted upon. This approach grows increasingly vital as people communicate across multiple platforms where the rules for identity verification can vary significantly.
Across the Atlantic, worries about AI-driven deception also extend into political arenas. In the United States, experts have observed incidents where fake messages and manipulated media were employed to shape public opinion ahead of major elections. The fear is that artificial intelligence could be used to craft targeted communications that resonate with specific audiences, potentially altering beliefs or sowing confusion. Voice-based fraud stands out as a particularly urgent risk because audio messages feel personal and immediate, making them an attractive tool for manipulation. While creating convincing misinformation is technically feasible, monitoring all such content and holding perpetrators to account remains a challenge for authorities and platforms alike.
Recent discussions broaden the scope to whether public figures or media personalities could become targets for deepfake content. Questions have emerged about the authenticity of certain interviews or statements, underscoring the necessity for media literacy, robust verification processes, and transparent disclosure practices from institutions that publish or broadcast sensitive material. The overarching takeaway is clear: as technology advances, critical thinking, verification, and secure communication practices will play an ever-more important role in preserving trust online.
For everyday users, the guidance is straightforward. Exercise extra caution with messages asking for money, even when they appear to come from a familiar contact. Do not act impulsively. Pause, verify through an independent channel, and enable two factor authentication whenever possible. Organizations and platforms are increasingly adopting stronger security measures, such as multi-step verification, anomaly detection for unusual payment requests, and improved guidance on recognizing red flags in both audio and visual content. The digital landscape is changing rapidly, and staying informed about the latest fraud schemes helps communities stay safer as AI capabilities continue to advance.
As conversations about digital deception evolve, experts consistently advocate for careful scrutiny of media claims. Whether a message arrives via voice, video, or text, the core defense remains consistent: verify, verify again, and never rush to fulfill financial requests. The emergence of real-time AI impersonation underscores the need to cultivate resilient habits, reliable verification routes, and ongoing education about potential fraud indicators. In short, awareness, verification, and secure practices stand as the strongest tools against increasingly convincing digital deception, regardless of geographic location.