How to Spot Deepfakes: A Practical Checklist

Deepfakes are images, videos or audio clips created or altered with AI to show someone saying or doing something they never did. They can be used for entertainment, but also for scams and misinformation.

Look at the details

• Faces that look too smooth, with odd skin texture or unnatural blinking.
• Lip movements that do not match the words.
• Blurry edges around hair, glasses or the jawline.
• Lighting and shadows that do not agree with the scene.
• Hands, teeth or jewelry that look distorted.

Listen carefully

Cloned voices may sound flat, have strange pauses, or lack natural breathing and background noise.

Check the source

Ask who posted it first. Search for the same clip on trusted news sites. Be wary of shocking videos with no source, especially during elections and emergencies. A reverse image search can show whether a picture has been reused.

Beware of scams

Criminals use cloned voices to pose as relatives or bosses asking for urgent money. If you get such a call, hang up and phone the person back on a known number. Agree on a family code word.

Remember

Detection tools are helpful but not perfect, and good fakes can fool experts. The best defense is a habit: pause, verify, and share only what you have checked. If something triggers a strong emotional reaction, that is exactly when to slow down.