AI-driven deepfake scams surge in Latin America
Deepfake scams using AI-generated audio and video are proliferating across Latin America, with phishing attempts up 140% in 2024. Criminals use fake videos of celebrities to trick victims into fraudulent schemes, with Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador most affected.
What happened
Criminals across Latin America are using AI to create deepfake videos and audio impersonating celebrities, distributing them primarily on social media to promote fraudulent schemes.
Victims are directed to fake gambling and investment websites where they are asked to register with personal data and make minimum deposits via bank transfer with promises of financial rewards.
Reported impact
Latin America recorded 697 million phishing blocks in the last 12 months, equivalent to 1,326 attack attempts per minute, according to Kaspersky data.
Online fraud attempts in the region increased 140% in 2024, with Brazil leading affected countries, followed by Mexico, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Guatemala and Brazil saw the largest year-on-year growth in phishing activity.
Index analysis
The deepfake scams exploit the difficulty of distinguishing real from fake content online, with an EAE Business School study finding 94% of Spanish citizens deeply concerned about AI's impact on identifying false information.
Deepfake scams have evolved from tactics that began in 2023, with criminals now employing voices and images of celebrities to increase credibility and deceive victims more effectively.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.