AI-powered deepfakes fuel surge in social engineering risk

Multiple security reports published Jan. 5–8, 2026 warn of a rise in AI-powered social engineering (INE; Cybersecurity Dive; IT Pro; DQ Channels). Deepfakes, voice cloning and highly tailored phishing are becoming hard to tell from real messages.

Attackers combine large language models (LLMs) for personalized text with voice‑synthesis tools and phishing‑as‑a‑service kits. IT Pro reports phishing kits “soared” in 2025. Cybersecurity Dive calls the mix an AI “perfect storm” that will increase fraud. DQ Channels and INE show AIs that mimic tone, cadence and context. That makes automated detectors less effective.

Immediate risks include executive impersonation, voice fraud at contact centers and credential theft via hyper‑targeted lures. Security teams should expect more attacks and higher sophistication through 2026. Priorities: strengthen authentication, add behavioral monitoring, and test incident playbooks for AI‑augmented impersonation.

Why It Matters

• High-quality voice cloning defeats voice biometrics and single-factor voice authentication — enforce stronger MFA or require out-of-band transaction verification.
• Phishing-as-a-service lowers the skill barrier and increases attack speed and volume — prioritize automated threat detection and inbox defenses tuned for highly personalized content.
• Include AI-augmented impersonation (deepfake + social context) in red teams, tabletop exercises, and incident-response playbooks to validate detection and recovery.
• Train employees and customers to verify requests for funds, credentials, or account changes; treat unexpected voice or video messages as high risk.