78 Security Pros Learn to Spot AI Deepfakes

Security teams across America just got a crash course in fighting back against AI scammers who are using deepfake videos and voice cloning to steal money and spread disinformation.

This spring, researchers from three universities trained 78 national security and public safety practitioners to understand, detect, and prevent AI-enabled crimes. The workshops came from NCITE, a research consortium addressing emerging threats.

The timing couldn't be better. Deepfake scams have already caused real harm. An engineering firm lost $25 million when criminals used a fake video conference to impersonate executives and authorize a fraudulent transfer. In another case, scammers cloned a parent's voice to fake a kidnapping and demand ransom.

The nearly seven-hour workshops combined teaching, demonstrations, and hands-on exercises. Participants learned how deepfake audio and video are created, then practiced creating simple fakes of their colleagues before trying to spot manipulated media.

Penn State researchers went further, creating a virtual reality replica of a steam plant. Power plant operators explored the digital twin to experience both the potential and the dangers of immersive AI technologies. "This is so realistic I keep forgetting I'm in a simulation," said Tim Patterson, a power plant operations supervisor.

The training covered real cases that show how criminals are exploiting AI. Fraudsters used a fake video advertisement to scam victims out of roughly $75,000. A teenager died by suicide after being targeted in an AI-enabled sextortion scheme. During the 2024 New Hampshire primary, voters received robocalls using an AI-generated voice resembling President Joe Biden.

Participants included investigators, analysts, and law enforcement officials who work on financial crimes and public safety. A federal digital evidence forensic lab manager called the training essential for understanding how bad actors perpetrate crimes against citizens and disrupt public safety.

Alabama State Representative Mike Shaw emphasized the importance of hands-on experience. "There is no substitute for focused, in-depth, hands-on training with the tools themselves," he said. "Training like this is essential to ensuring we are prepared to confront these emerging threats effectively."

The Ripple Effect spreads beyond the 78 practitioners who attended. Each participant returns to their organization equipped to train colleagues, update security protocols, and protect their communities from AI-enabled threats. The researchers are now exploring partnerships with local law enforcement agencies to expand access to these critical training programs.

As AI capabilities continue evolving, this practical training model offers a template for keeping security professionals one step ahead of criminals who exploit new technologies to harm individuals, organizations, and governments.