AI deepfakes and voice cloning drive rise in fraud and political manipulation

deepfakes artificial intelligence election fraud voice cloning cybersecurity

Artificial intelligence and deepfake technology are increasingly being used for fraud and political manipulation. In Brazil, a report by the VigIA project and Lupa agency found that at least 554 deepfake videos and images were published on social networks during the first round of the 2026 general election campaign. These deepfakes accounted for 60% of the 920 AI-related publications monitored between August 16 and September 28. Most of this content originated from anonymous user accounts and avatars, presenting a significant challenge for electoral law enforcement.

Beyond politics, AI-driven voice cloning is being used in sophisticated scams. Fraudsters can now use very short audio samples to create digital copies of a person's voice, allowing them to impersonate family members or trusted institutions to solicit money or sensitive data. This evolution of vishing allows attackers to simulate human emotions, such as panic or distress, to manipulate victims.

In a separate case involving geopolitical verification, expert Hany Farid analyzed video evidence of a Tomahawk missile strike in Iran. After studying the physical plausibility of the strike, Farid concluded that the video was authentic, highlighting the ongoing struggle to distinguish reality from high-quality AI-generated fabrications.

Entities

Beatriz Farrugia · ESET · Fideuram · GetReal Security · Hany Farid · Intesa Sanpaolo · Lupa · Oxygen Forensics · Paolo Molesini · U.S. Department of Justice · VigIA · VÚB banka

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The most vulnerable demographic for fraud is the 61+ age group, particularly regarding investment scams. womanman.sk
[○ 1 SOURCE] In 2025, 6 million people in Brazil were victims of account theft, a 141% increase from 2021. vtvnews.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] A fraud involving AI-generated voices led to the loss of approximately 95 million euros from Fideuram bank accounts. www.startitup.sk
[○ 1 SOURCE] Manipulated images and videos accounted for 45.8% of classified fraud cases in Brazil. vtvnews.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] The volume of deepfakes on major social networks increased by 250% over the last 12 months. dev.to
[○ 1 SOURCE] At least 554 deepfake videos and images were published on social networks during the first round of the 2026 general election campaign. www.mundopositivo.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] Hany Farid concluded that video evidence of a Tomahawk missile strike in Iran was physically plausible and authentic. www.cbsnews.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Oxygen Forensics concealed that it was owned and controlled by Russian citizens and that its software was developed by programmers in Russia.
[○ 1 SOURCE] Deepfakes accounted for 60% of the 920 AI-related publications collected between August 16 and September 28 during the election period. www.mundopositivo.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] The majority of deepfake content used in the 2026 Brazilian election campaign originated from anonymous user accounts and avatars. www.mundopositivo.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] At least 554 deepfake videos and images were published on social networks during the first round of the 2026 Brazilian general election campaign. www.mundopositivo.com.br
[○ 1 SOURCE] The majority of deepfake content in the 2026 Brazilian election campaign originated from anonymous user accounts and avatars. www.mundopositivo.com.br