This study ranks the countries that have been most affected by deepfake fraud.
There are many different types of cyber fraud. Hackers use a number of different methods to get passwords and personal information, or to take over devices. One example is deepfake technology. This technique may involve manipulating videos, images, or audio files. Often, artificial intelligence is used to make them appear more realistic.
In this article, we'll discuss a study conducted by Surfshark , a cybersecurity company known for its VPN service, which identifies the countries with the highest number of deepfake victims. We'll talk about how this technology affects you and what you should do to protect yourself.
- Countries most affected by deepfakes
According to a Surfshark study, deepfake scams caused $2.19 billion in losses globally. However, the scale of the current threat becomes clear when you consider that $1.65 billion of this amount represents losses incurred in 2025 alone. Furthermore, these scams are expected to become even more widespread in 2026.
The same report indicates that one of the most common scams involves impersonating government officials and well-known figures. Among other things, they promote bogus investments, thereby stealing money from victims. These scams also include attacks on businesses, identity theft from family members, and other financial crimes.
According to this study, the United States was the hardest-hit country, with losses amounting to $712 million. Of all these scams, 43% targeted the corporate sector, where attackers successfully tricked institutions into sending money.
Malaysia ranked second in losses, with $502 million, followed by Hong Kong with $229 million. The United Kingdom, the first European country to experience losses, came in fourth with $149 million. Indonesia and China followed with losses of $139 million and $62 million, respectively, and Sweden came in fifth with $63 million.
Spain ranks eighth among the most affected countries, placing it among the top ten, which also includes Canada and Australia. In Spain's case, losses exceeded $56 million.
The most important thing is to use common sense. You need to look for small details that might indicate a video or image is fake: lip movements, strange voices, and images that don't match reality. However, the truth is that this type of scam has become more sophisticated and isn't always easy to detect. It's also essential to analyze messages and be suspicious of any that seem alarming, ask you to click on a link, or request money.
Before believing anything you see in a video or image, you should verify it through official sources. You can search online, on reputable websites, to find out if the information is real or a scam. Never act impulsively without thoroughly investigating the facts.
Furthermore, keeping your devices protected is essential. Make sure they are regularly updated and that you have robust security software to help you detect and eliminate threats.