Deepfakes are videos that use artificial Intelligence (AI) to create believable but fake depictions of real people including facial appearance and voice. Deepfakes are not new, but with advancement in AI and easy-to-use software, they are more realistic and are gaining traction on social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. These deepfakes look so real, it is difficult to spot a scam from a legitimate video.

While it is unlikely that a scammer will make a deepfake video featuring you as an average internet user, it could happen. Here are a few tips to protect yourself:

1. Keep your social media profiles private so scammers don't have easy access to the photos and videos you share.
2. Using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) on your devices can help you stay anonymous while online.
3. Make sure your devices are free of malware. This is simply done by utilizing antivirus software.
4. Report deepfakes to the social platform it was shared on. Deepfakes violate the guidelines of most platforms so it should be taken down swiftly.
5. Be skeptical of "celebrity" endorsements that encourage you to buy or invest in any product. Instead, go directly to the website of the company and do your own research.