mekat.
Try a lesson

How to spot a deepfake video call

You can sometimes spot a deepfake video call from glitches, like lips that don’t match the words, but the reliable test is to check who you’re talking to through a second channel you already trust. If a video call asks for money, passwords or secrecy, hang up and call the person back on a number you know is theirs.Updated October 25, 2026

Can scammers really fake a live video call?

Yes. The FBI warned in December 2024 that criminals generate videos for real-time video chats in which they pose as company executives, law enforcement or other authority figures. In May 2025 it added that AI-generated content has advanced to the point that it is often difficult to identify. Earlier, in 2022, the FBI reported people using deepfakes and stolen personal information to apply for remote jobs in online interviews.

Scammers use a fake face and voice to borrow someone’s trust: a boss approving an urgent payment, a relative in trouble, an official with a warning, or someone you met online who finally “proves” they’re real on camera.

Signs that something’s off on camera

These clues come from FBI warnings. Treat them as hints, not proof: good fakes may show none of them, and a bad connection can cause some of them on a real call.

  • Lips that don’t quite match the words. The FBI described interviews where the person’s actions and lip movement didn’t completely line up with the audio.
  • Coughs, sneezes and other sounds that don’t match what you see.
  • Lag, a voice that doesn’t match the face, or movement that looks unnatural.
  • Faces that look indistinct or irregular, strange eyes or teeth, or distorted hands.
  • A tone or choice of words that doesn’t sound like the person you know. The FBI suggests listening closely for this.

A call that looks perfect isn’t proof either, so never treat a clean picture as permission to send money.

The checks that work better than squinting

Because looks can be faked, check the situation instead of the pixels. Think like a meerkat on lookout: one quick check before you act.

  1. Hang up and call back. Use a phone number you already have, from your contacts, the company’s official website or the back of your bank card. Never use a number or link the caller gives you. The FBI and the FTC both give this advice.
  2. Ask your secret word. The FBI suggests agreeing on a secret word or phrase with your family to verify who’s calling. A fake can copy a face; it can’t guess a word that was never online.
  3. Check with someone else. If you can’t reach the person, the FTC suggests getting in touch through another family member or their friends.
  4. Look up who’s asking. For messages claiming to be from an official, the FBI suggests researching the number, organization or person before you reply.
  5. Ask a question only the real person would know, about something that isn’t on social media.

Red flags in what the call asks for

The request often gives a scam away faster than the video does. Be very careful if a call:

  • asks you to move money, especially by wire, cryptocurrency or gift cards, which the FTC says could be signs of a scam
  • says it’s urgent or secret, and tells you not to check with anyone
  • asks for passwords, one-time codes or account details
  • sends a link to move the conversation to a different messaging app, a trick the FBI has described in an impersonation campaign
  • comes from someone you’ve only ever met online

At work, follow your company’s payment rules every time, even if the request seems to come from the boss on camera. A real manager will understand a quick call-back.

Protect yourself before a call ever happens

  • Set up a family code word now, before anyone needs it.
  • Make social media accounts private and limit followers to people you know. The FBI suggests limiting how much of your image and voice is online, since that’s what fakes are made from.
  • Turn on two-factor authentication for your accounts, and never share the codes with anyone.
  • Never share sensitive information with people you’ve only met online or over the phone.

If you think you were targeted

Stop talking and don’t send anything else. If you’ve paid or shared account details, call your bank or card company straight away using the number on its website or your card. Report the scam to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. For more on voice clones and other AI scams, read our guide on how to spot AI scams.

How Mekat helps

Mekat’s Privacy, safety and scams stage includes a unit on phishing, voice clones and deepfakes, and the Images, audio, video and documents stage covers consent, likeness, labels and provenance. See the full learning path.

Quick answers

Can a deepfake be used on a live video call?

Yes. The FBI has warned that criminals create real-time video for calls, posing as executives, police or other authority figures.

What are the signs of a deepfake on a video call?

Lips out of sync with the words, sounds like coughs that don’t match the picture, lag, strange eyes, teeth or hands, and wording that doesn’t sound like the person. Good fakes may show none of these.

What should I do if a video call asks for money?

Hang up and call the person back on a number you already know is theirs, or ask your family code word. Don’t pay by wire, crypto or gift cards on the strength of a call.

Where do I report a deepfake scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the FBI at ic3.gov. If money moved, contact your bank right away.

Sources

Written by the Mekat team at Martinez Solutions LLC, Glendale, Arizona. Spotted something out of date? support@mekat.ai