Deepfake Scams in Singapore: Why They Are More Dangerous Than Phishing Emails and How to Protect Yourself

Introduction

In Singapore’s digitally connected world, scams are evolving faster than ever. For years, phishing emails were the main threat. It often comes with fraudulent links, fake invoices, and cleverly worded messages asking for passwords or bank details. But now, a new type of fraud is emerging: deepfake scams. These attacks use AI-generated audio, video or images to impersonate trusted people such as bosses, family members, bankers or government officials, with striking realism.

Deepfakes pose a greater risk than phishing emails for several reasons. They exploit human trust in voice and facial recognition, enable highly personalised social engineering, bypass traditional security checks, and can cause faster and larger financial or reputational damage. This article explains how deepfakes differ from traditional scams, why they are particularly dangerous for Singaporeans and businesses, and what practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your organisation.

What Is a Deepfake?

A deepfake is media such as audio, video or images are created or manipulated using artificial intelligence and machine learning to mimic a real person. While dramatic face swaps and cloned voices grab headlines, deepfakes also include subtle manipulations, such as altering what someone says in a recording or fabricating entirely new video of someone performing actions they never did.

How Deepfakes Differ from Phishing Emails

Phishing emails are text-based attacks designed to trick victims into revealing credentials, clicking harmful links, or transferring money. They rely on language, urgency and impersonation of organisations such as banks or e-commerce platforms. Defences include spam filters, email authentication and user awareness.

Deepfake scams, however, rely on audio and video to impersonate real people, creating a very different threat:

• Sensory trust: Humans instinctively trust familiar voices and faces. A suspicious email from a boss is easy to ignore, but a video or voice call that looks and sounds like them can feel urgent and real.

• Real-time interaction: Deepfakes can simulate live conversations or instructions, pressuring victims into immediate action.

• Personalisation: Publicly available audio and video can be used to mimic tone, expressions and mannerisms, making impersonation highly convincing.

• Circumventing security: While email filters block phishing messages, deepfake calls and videos can bypass two-factor authentication and identity checks.

Why Deepfakes Are More Dangerous in Singapore

1. High-trust culture and rapid decision-making
   Singapore workplaces value efficiency and respect authority. A senior executive instructing staff to transfer funds can prompt immediate action. Deepfake audio or video can exploit that instinct.

2. Widespread digital communication
   Singaporeans rely on WhatsApp, Zoom, Microsoft Teams and FaceTime daily. A convincing deepfake could arrive through any of these channels, making it harder to identify as fake.

3. Public profiles and online presence
   Executives, public figures and even private individuals often share videos and voice content online. This material can be used to train AI models for realistic deepfakes.

4. Financial impact and cross-border risk
   As a global financial hub, scams targeting corporate treasuries or high-net-worth individuals can escalate into large losses. Cross-border operations make tracing and recovering funds more complex.

 

Psychology: Why People Fall for Deepfakes

• Authority bias: People obey perceived authority figures; a CEO’s deepfake instruction carries weight.

• Emotional manipulation: Fake pleas from relatives or panicked managers override caution.

• Cognitive overload: In fast-paced situations, victims have little time to verify authenticity.

Practical Steps for Individuals in Singapore

1. Pause and verify
   Stop if someone urgently requests money or sensitive information. Confirm through official channels, such as company phone numbers or verified messaging accounts.

2. Establish verification protocols

• Families: Agree on code words or verification phrases for emergencies.

• Businesses: Require written confirmation and multiple approvals before transferring funds.

3. Educate yourself and others
   Hold awareness sessions about deepfakes. Train staff and family to recognise social engineering and insist on written confirmation for sensitive requests.

4. Use secure communication channels
   Prefer end-to-end encrypted platforms with identity verification features. Avoid posting personal audio or video publicly.

5. Limit personal data exposure
   Reduce publicly available voice and video content. Adjust privacy settings, especially for high-profile individuals.

6. Report incidents immediately
   Stop all transactions and report suspicious activity to banks and authorities. In Singapore, use Police@SG, ScamShield, and your financial institutions’ reporting channels.

Practical Steps for Businesses in Singapore

1. Multi-layer approval
   Use dual authorisation or the four-eyes principle for significant fund transfers.

2. Out-of-band verification
   Confirm instructions through a second independent channel.

3. Employee training and simulation
   Run exercises to simulate deepfake scenarios and test responses.

4. Limit public exposure of key personnel
   Reduce online posting of speeches or audio that could train deepfake models.

5. Invest in detection tools
   Employ AI software to detect manipulation in video or audio.

6. Legal preparedness
   Have protocols for takedown requests and engagement with authorities.

If You Are Targeted by Deep Fake Scams

• Stop communications and do not provide sensitive information.

• Preserve all evidence, including screenshots, recordings, and transaction details.

• Contact your bank immediately to freeze transfers or accounts.

• Report to the Singapore Police Force and ScamShield.

• Seek professional advice for businesses or high-value cases.

Conclusion

Phishing emails were just the beginning. Deepfakes are the next chapter of digital social engineering, exploiting trust in human faces and voices to manipulate decisions quickly. In Singapore’s fast-paced, high-trust, digitally connected environment, these scams pose a serious threat.

The best defence is simple human judgement backed by strong processes: pause, verify independently, insist on multiple approvals, and report suspicious incidents promptly. Organisations should update protocols and train staff, while individuals must be careful with what they share online. Staying informed and alert remains the most effective protection.

Stay smart, stay safe and stay vigilant with Scam.SG