How deepfake scams are reaching record levels by targeting social media users: Everything you need to know

Deepfakes scams have reached record levels in 2026, evolving from a technological curiosity into an industrial threat. This surge is driven by the collapse of technical barriers and an internet saturated with fraudulent schemes, following the staggering $1.1 billion in losses recorded in 2025.

Recent technological shifts have increased the risk of scam, as deepfakes become more sophisticated and lead to massive financial losses. According to study results, more than 80% of these losses occurred on social media, with Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram being the most targeted platforms.

Most AI-enabled frauds utilize audio and video elements to impersonate celebrities to businesses and financial leaders in a bid to promote fraudulent investments.

In a similar deepfake disseminated over the summer, a video of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appeared to urge the public to sign up to an investment platform. This prompted consumer rights organizations to raise concerns over the fraudulent footage. Conversely, romantic scams are also on the rise. Once scammers convince victims that they are in a genuine relationship, they commonly ask them for urgent medical procedures or trick them into participating in illegal financial operations.

For instance, one woman's story went viral in France in early 2025, after she revealed that she had been lured into a romance with a man whom she believed was Brad Pitt. In reality, she was tricked by a sophisticated scamming ring which convinced her the Hollywood star was dangerously ill and needed money for medical procedures, leading her to hand over more than €800,000.

It has been observed that romance scammers operate internationally, with regional hubs located in West Africa, as well as in Southeast Asia specifically Cambodia, Myanmar and the Philippines. The year 2026 marks a pivotal moment in the defense against deepfake scams; however, the solution is not just about technology, but a shift in human behavior that requires a skeptical mindset for every digital interaction.