AI Scams: Fake Bank Calls and Deepfakes – How to Avoid Falling Victimized

The phone rings and on the other end is a polite “bank employee” informing you of a suspicious charge on your card. Other times you hear your child’s voice, agitated, urgently asking for money. AI scams have changed the rules: fraudsters no longer need a good Greek vocabulary or convincing acting, because artificial intelligence does the work for them. In the US alone, citizens lost over $893 million in 2025 to AI-enabled scams, according to FBI data reported by CNN.

The phenomenon does not only concern abroad. In Greece, the Ministry of Citizen Protection is working on a package of 13 measures for electronic fraud, with particular reference to deepfakes and fake banks, as iefimerida wrote on September 23, 2026. Below we explain how these scams work, what are the signs that betray them and what you should do to avoid falling victim.

See also: How to recognize a fake bank SMS before you fall victim to fraud

How AI scams work

The most dangerous development is voice cloning . Today’s artificial intelligence tools can create a convincing copy of someone’s voice with just a few seconds of real audio. This material is easy to find: a video on Instagram or TikTok, a voice message, even a previously secretly recorded call. With the clone in their hands, perpetrators can “speak” in the voice of a relative, a coworker, or a bank employee.

The most organized groups go a step further. With techniques that convert the voice of the scammer in real time, they can converse normally, answer questions and adapt to the victim's reactions. Synthetic media expert Henry Ajder noted on CNN that it is now unfair to expect the average person to distinguish a real voice from a fake one by ear.

The same tools are also used in attacks on businesses. In one of the most famous cases, reported by the ABA Banking Journal, a company employee transferred $25 million because he believed he was talking to his CFO. The voice was created using artificial intelligence. The same journal reports that voice fraud in the banking sector increased by about 30% in 2025.

The fake call scenario from the bank

The phone scam with a supposed bank employee, known as vishing, almost always follows the same pattern, as described in detail in a report by Neos. First comes the urgency: “Someone is trying to charge 980 euros from abroad.” Then comes the fear: “If we don’t stop it now, the money will be lost.” And finally the “help”: “Don’t worry, I will guide you to cancel it together.”

The scammer speaks calmly and professionally and often already knows your name or other details, which probably come from a data breach. At some point, he asks you to read him the code you just received by SMS. Here's the catch: the one-time code (OTP) does not cancel any transaction, on the contrary, it authorizes the transfer of your money. That's why the transaction looks completely legitimate in the bank's systems: you weren't "hacked", you were convinced to authorize it yourself.

Artificial intelligence makes the scenario even more convincing. The voice can be flawless, without an accent, and accompanied by automated messages that mimic the bank’s call center. In Greece, the Hellenic Bank Association announced in early 2026 that caller ID spoofing has been almost completely eliminated, thanks to measures by banks and telecommunications providers. But fraudsters are adapting quickly, and voice cloning is their new weapon.

See also: Dokos and deepfake: How the attack on Maximou took place and what are the countermeasures

Six telltale signs of AI fraud

Since voice is no longer a reliable criterion, you should pay attention to the behavior of your interlocutor and not how he sounds. These are the signs that are repeated in almost every case:

1. Rushing: they pressure you to act "right now," without giving you time to think or hang up.
2. Fear or emotion: you hear about money being lost, an accident, the arrest or kidnapping of a loved one.
3. They ask for codes: they ask for your e-banking code, your card PIN, or the code you just received via SMS.
4. "Safe account": they suggest you temporarily transfer your money to another account "to protect it."
5. Unusual payment method: they ask you for gift cards, cryptocurrencies, or transfers to unknown accounts.
6. Confidentiality: you are asked not to say anything to anyone, not even your family or the bank branch.

What you should never do

The simplest rule is also the most important: no bank will ever ask you for your full e-banking code, card PIN or transaction confirmation code over the phone. No bank will also ask you to transfer money to a “secure account”. If you hear something like this, it is definitely a scam, no matter how convincing the voice sounds.

Don't install remote access applications like AnyDesk because someone asked you to do so on the phone. Don't click on links in SMS or emails supposedly sent by the bank, and don't call numbers given to you by the caller. Finally, don't let time pressure decide for you: a real bank employee won't get angry if you tell them you'll call back.

How do you verify that the bank is really calling you?

The most effective defense against AI fraud is independent verification. Hang up the phone and call your bank yourself at the number listed on the back of your card or on its official website. If the call was genuine, the employee will find the issue in the system. If it wasn't, you just saved your money.

For calls that appear to be from relatives, the SecNews editorial team suggests agreeing in advance with your family on a “code word” that only you know. If someone calls you in a panic and asks for money, ask them. A voice clone can imitate the tone and tone of voice, but it cannot know what you have agreed on privately. Alternatively, hang up and call the same person on your known number.

It's also helpful to enable notifications for any activity on your account and limit the amount of public material featuring your voice on social media. The fewer samples that are freely circulating, the harder it is to create a convincing clone.

If you have fallen victim: the first few minutes count

If you gave passwords or approved a transaction, contact your bank immediately to block the card and account. Every minute counts, because the money is quickly transferred to the accounts of intermediaries, the so-called “mules”. Then, file a complaint with the Cybercrime Directorate at 11188 or via the Greek Police website. Keep screenshots, call numbers and times, because they will help the investigation.

The measures being developed by the Ministry of Citizen Protection are moving in exactly this direction. They provide for a National Fraud Countermeasure Center with 24-hour operation, a common protocol so that actions are completed within 30 minutes and a national warning system between all banks. 11188 is also being considered to function as an emergency number for fraud.

Frequently asked questions

Can I tell if a voice is cloned? Usually not. Today's clones are so realistic that even experts have a hard time. So don't rely on your ears, but on signs of fraud and independent verification.

The screen shows the bank number. So is it a real call? Not necessarily. The number displayed can be spoofed. Even if it looks correct, hang up and call the bank yourself.

Who is most at risk? Seniors are a common target, but AI scams affect people of all ages. Take a few minutes to explain the basic rules to your parents and grandparents: no bank asks for passwords over the phone, and no emergency call is so urgent that you can’t verify it.

Artificial intelligence gives scammers voices and faces that we can no longer distinguish from the real thing. But the best defense remains simple: stop, hang up, and verify. A few seconds of calm can save a lifetime of savings.

See also: How to protect yourself from WhatsApp scams