Sophisticated 'Deepfake' Scams on the Rise, Victims Targeted for Personal Information and Funds

'Deepfake' scams are becoming more intricate, prompting authorities to develop methods for distinguishing between real and phony occurrences. Asheville, North Carolina, police have issued a warning about a "sophisticated fraud scam" involving the theft of personal information from victims' computers by suspects posing as Microsoft employees. The swindle has already netted $50,000 from two locals.

Asheville police have raised the alarm about a fraud operation in which fraudsters impersonate Microsoft workers to steal money from victims' computers. The suspects have made this strategy especially successful by gaining access to victims' homes and using tactics that exploit trust and vulnerability.

"This intricate fraud has already cost two people in our region $50,000," the Asheville Police Department said in a press statement released on Tuesday. "The perpetrators dispatch a 'Microsoft employee' to the victim's house to collect the money in person. By doing this, the criminals have been able to take advantage of people's trust and susceptibility."

Police have identified the suspect's vehicle as a dark silver or gray Toyota Highlander, possibly with damage to the front right quarter panel.

Authorities have requested that anyone with information regarding these frauds contact local law enforcement authorities "right away."

"We advise residents to be vigilant and authenticate the identity of anybody claiming to be a Microsoft or another company representative," the police said.

Police also advised residents to "verify representatives' credentials through official channels before engaging with them or providing any funds."

The Microsoft employee scam has netted $50,000 from two victims in Asheville, according to authorities. (David Ryder/Bloomberg)

"Microsoft will never come to your home, send you unwanted messages, or call you out of the blue to ask for personal or financial information or to provide technical support to fix your computer," a Microsoft official said.

"Any contact with Microsoft must be initiated by the individual," the spokeswoman continued. "We advise customers to treat all unwanted communications with skepticism and to avoid disclosing personal information. If an individual believes they may have been the victim of a Tech Support Scam, the most critical step they can take is to report it to law enforcement immediately, such as their local consumer protection agency."

Customers may also submit their experiences at www.microsoft.com/reportascam. "By doing so, Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit can continue its ongoing investigations with law enforcement agencies as we take appropriate action against those who target our customers," the spokeswoman stated.