Identity Management Institute Issues Fraud Alert to Prevent Becoming a Deepfake Victim

Identity Management Institute, the leading global authority in identity governance, risk management, and compliance certifications, issued a Deepfake Fraud Alert warning professionals and organizations of the rising threat of AI-driven identity fraud.

Deepfakes: The New Frontier of Identity Fraud

Current events indicate an increase in deepfake fraud by AI, whereby cybercriminals use deepfake video, voice cloning, and fake media to impersonate executives, staff, or family members convincingly. The frauds result in losses worldwide and require utmost attention to awareness and safeguards.

"Deepfakes are among the most perilous identity threats ever," commented IMI Founder and President, Henry Bagdasarian. "Through trust exploitation and state-of-the-art AI software, fraudsters are capable of tricking victims into transferring money, revealing sensitive information, or providing unauthorized access. IMI is committed to helping professionals and organizations recognize and defend against these threats."

How Deepfake Fraud Works
• Executive Impersonation: Criminals mimic CEOs or managers in video calls to authorize fraudulent transactions.
• Voice Cloning: AI replicates the voices of family members or colleagues to request urgent financial transfers.
• Synthetic Identity Fraud: Deepfakes are combined with stolen personal data to create entirely new, fraudulent identities.

Here's an article about the trouble with deepfakes: https://identitymanagementinstitute.org/the-deep-trouble-with-deepfakes/

Recent Deepfake Incidents

Below are two high-profile deepfake fraud cases that highlight just how dangerous and sophisticated these AI-driven frauds have become:

1. Singapore Finance Director Duped in $499K Deepfake CEO Fraud
In March 2025, a finance director at a multinational firm in Singapore nearly transferred U.S. $499,000 following what appeared to be a genuine Zoom call with senior executives, including the company's CEO, who were all entirely fabricated using deepfake technology. The impostor instructed the transfer during a confidential meeting setup. Fortunately, thanks to intervention by the Singapore Police Force's Anti-Fraud Centre (with help from Hong Kong authorities), almost the entire sum was recovered before further damage occurred.

2. AI Impersonation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio
In mid-2025, the U.S. State Department issued a formal warning after discovering that an impostor using an AI-generated voice and text had attempted to impersonate Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The fraud targeted at least three foreign ministers, a U.S. senator, and a governor via text, Signal, and voicemail. While the attempts were not successful or highly sophisticated, they underscored the growing misuse of deepfake and AI impersonation technologies at the highest levels of government.

Deepfake Risk Management Best Practices
Authenticating deepfakes can be a highly technical matter requiring advanced tools to identify them. To combat these frauds, IMI urges professionals and employers to:

1. Verify identities through multiple channels before approving sensitive requests.
2. Educate employees about deepfake risks and implement regular security awareness training to pause and verify when requests involve money transfers, sensitive data, or confidential access.
3. Adopt advanced identity verification technologies, such as biometric authentication and behavioral analytics.
4. Report suspected fraud immediately to the appropriate management and authorities.
5. Establish organizational protocols such as no approvals based only on video/voice calls.

Since 2007, IMI has been the trusted authority in identity and security certifications. By issuing fraud alerts, IMI continues its mission to advance global security awareness, promote ethical practices, and protect both individuals and organizations from identity-based threats.
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Identity Management Institute
20555 Devonshire Street, #366, Los Angeles, CA 91311, USA
info@theimi.org

The Identity Management Institute (IMI) is the leading international organization dedicated to identity governance, risk management, compliance, and cybersecurity. IMI provides globally recognized certifications, training, and thought leadership to professionals and organizations seeking to advance their careers and safeguard digital identities.
For more information, visit: www.identitymanagementinstitute.org

This release was published on openPR.