Over 105,000 deepfake attacks recorded in U.S. in 2024, costing $200 million in Q1 2025
Criminals reportedly used AI-generated deepfakes to impersonate CEOs, managers and family members to defraud victims in scams. Over 105,000 such attacks were recorded in the U.S. in 2024, causing more than $200 million in losses in the first quarter of 2025.
What happened
Criminals used AI-generated audio or video to impersonate CEOs, managers, family members and friends. Employees were tricked into transferring money or leaking sensitive data, and elderly victims were targeted with fake emergency scenarios.
Over 105,000 deepfake attacks were recorded in the U.S. in 2024. Fraudsters made phone calls or sent AI-written texts posing as relatives or friends in distress.
Reported impact
Deepfake scams cost more than US$200 million in the first quarter of 2025 alone. Victims often cannot distinguish synthetic voices or faces from real ones.
Governance controls
The Federal Trade Commission has outlined how scammers use fake emergencies to pose as relatives.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.