Recently, PropertyCasualty360.com spoke to Brian Long, an AI and deepfake expert and CEO of Adaptive Security, about the increase of deepfake scams after natural disasters.

PropertyCasulty360.com: Why are we seeing more scams related to fake videos after devastating events like hurricanes, fires?

Long: Moments of chaos and tragedy create a perfect storm for misinformation. People are desperate for updates and don’t have time to verify what they see, which makes them more vulnerable to fake videos. Attackers exploit that urgency by impersonating officials or aid groups to spread scams. Scammers often pose as officials or aid groups, exploiting trust and urgency, turning disaster into an opportunity for deception.

PropertyCasulty360.com: How quickly can convincing deepfakes be made?

Long: This isn’t a fringe threat anymore. In the U.S., there were more than 105,000 deepfake-related attacks last year – one every five minutes. That’s a 17x increase from 2023 to 2024. Thanks to inexpensive, globally available AI tools, realistic disaster-themed deepfakes – fake charity appeals, fabricated videos – can be assembled in minutes. Low cost and minimal skill requirements mean these scams proliferate fast.

PropertyCasulty360.com: There were over 105,000 deepfake-related attacks in the U.S. last year, nearly one every five minutes. Will these attacks increase over time?

Long: Unfortunately, yes. The cost to create deepfakes is dropping, the tools are getting easier, and the rewards are growing. In fact, deepfake-related fraud attempts surged by more than 3,000% last year, and there’s no sign of slowing down. Every advance in AI creation tools makes it cheaper and faster for bad actors to churn out fakes at scale, while detection and verification struggle to keep up. Without stronger safeguards, deepfakes risk becoming the new spam: everywhere, relentless and far harder to recognize.

PropertyCasulty360.com: What practical steps can consumers take?

Long: One of the simplest defenses is also the most overlooked: remove your personalized voicemail greeting and use your carrier’s default – don’t give scammers that raw audio.

Special Reports /

Scammers ramp up fake videos, photos to exploit catastrophes

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