Deepfake fraud surges 7001TP3Q in Brazil; see how to protect yourself

Frauds that use deepfake, digital manipulation of voice, image or video to simulate real people, grew about 700% between the 1st quarter of 2024 and the 1st quarter of 2025, according to Sumsub's global digital security report.The survey also points out that incidents in Brazil are five times more frequent than in the United States, putting the country at the forefront of digital attacks.

Last week, the Civil Police of Amazonas triggered Operation Hologram, which arrested those responsible for applying millionaire scams cloning facial biometrics.Victims reported having vehicles financed in their names with documentation falsified by AI. According to the Amazonas Public Security Secretariat (SSP-AM), this was the first case of deepfake in the state, and drew attention by the technological sophistication applied.

According to Jose Miguel, pre-sales manager at Unentel, the deepfake it is no longer a distant risk and already directly impacts corporate routines. “Today there are scams in which the voice or image of executives are cloned to authorize payments or free access. The technology is more sophisticated and requires stricter verification protocols, use of multiple layers of authentication and constant training of teams. It is about creating a preventive culture within the companies”, he says.

Recent reports and cases like Operation Hologram show that scams with deepfake they are no longer restricted to the social media environment: they reach strategic sectors such as fintechs, banks, technology and digital services, where external trust is a key asset.

Here are some practical measures for prevention:

1. Multichannel verification: always confirm sensitive instructions (high transfers, ownership changes, etc.) over more than one channel already validated (phone, video call, face-to-face or any connection that already exists and is secure).

2. Synthetic identity analysis tools: if possible, use software and services that detect deepfake analyzing voice patterns, visual inconsistencies, file metadata, and behavior history.

3. Training and Internal Simulations: empower finance, compliance, IT and legal teams to recognize signs of deepfake; do simulated attack exercises to test for vulnerabilities.

4. Governance and clear internal policy: establish formal protocols for suspected cases, who to trigger, record evidence and collaborate with authorities.

“A prevention is today the main defense. Investing in technology, raising awareness among employees and structuring clear response protocols are essential steps to prevent the deepfakes advance within the companies”, completes Jose Miguel.