The FBI issued a holiday consumer warning that scammers are increasingly using pressure tactics and AI tools — including voice cloning and deepfakes — across phishing, imposter and virtual‑kidnapping schemes. The agency reported more than 9,000 AI‑related complaints to IC3 in the first seven months of 2025 and urged victims to verify requests and report suspicious activity.

The FBI’s National Press Office released a holiday‑season advisory highlighting a surge in AI‑enabled and traditional seasonal scams that rely on urgency and sophisticated deception. Law enforcement officials noted an increase in complaints involving voice cloning, synthetic audio and deepfake video used to impersonate relatives, service providers, and institutional representatives to extract money or sensitive information. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) logged over 9,000 AI‑related complaints through July 2025, a figure the FBI cited to illustrate the rapid adoption of generative technologies by criminals. The bulletin stressed straightforward protective steps: pause before complying with urgent requests, verify by contacting friends, family or institutions directly using known channels, and report incidents to IC3 for investigative triage. The advisory also encouraged providers and platforms to enhance authentication measures and urged consumers to be skeptical of unsolicited demands for gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency. The FBI framed the guidance as part of coordinated outreach with state and local partners to reduce holiday fraud losses and improve public awareness.