​3 Ways Criminals Are Using Deepfakes To Hurt Real Businesses

Criminals are using AI-generated deepfakes to impersonate executives and create fake documents, causing millions in losses for companies.

The technology allows fraudsters to replicate a person's face and voice with high fidelity, making it difficult to distinguish between real and synthetic media.

Christian Perry, the CEO of Undetectable AI and TruthScan, has observed firsthand how these tools are being used to wreak havoc on businesses.

Executive Impersonation

A familiar face or voice can make a fraudulent request seem legitimate, a tactic that has proven highly effective for scammers.

In 2024, the engineering firm Arup lost approximately $25 million after an employee joined a video call with what appeared to be senior colleagues.

The people on the call were deepfakes, and the employee transferred money to criminals before realizing the deception.

Sometimes executive impersonation targets the public directly. Scammers have used a deepfake video of Elon Musk to promote a fraudulent Neuralink-branded cryptocurrency scheme.

These schemes exploit an executive's reputation to make an unrelated offer appear to have the company's backing, misleading investors and customers alike.

Deepfake Documents

AI tools make it easier to create convincing fake documents, giving businesses another reason to diligently check the information behind an application.

Fraudulent job applicants can use AI to create résumés with invented work histories, fake credentials and false identity documents.

For businesses handling large volumes of applications, those claims can often be difficult to verify at scale, despite the professional appearance of the files.

To spot deepfake documents, start by checking the claims. Verify degrees and certifications with the issuing institutions, and confirm employment history using contact information you find independently.

Document analysis software can help investigate suspicious files and look for visual AI patterns and indicators.

AI Refund Fraud

Whether your business offers goods or services, you could be vulnerable to AI-enabled refund fraud. Retail returns were estimated at nearly $850 billion in 2025, including roughly $76 billion in fraudulent returns.

Scammers have been using AI-generated images of damaged products to justify fraudulent claims. They make an item look hazardous or impossible to return to get a full refund or replacement without sending it back.

Businesses that sell services are also targeted. Scammers can use AI to fabricate emails, text messages or agreements to support a fraudulent chargeback.

To prevent AI refund fraud, document everything. Keep records of orders, deliveries and customer communications.

If you sell physical products, make sure you or your team reviews the photos attached to refund claims and checks them against the order details.

Review the available image metadata, and use detection tools as an additional check if you suspect fraud.