UAE Businesses Targeted by AI Deepfakes and Sophisticated Phishing Scams

Corporate entities across the UAE face a rising wave of sophisticated cyber threats as criminals deploy generative AI to conduct deepfake impersonations and automated phishing attacks. Industry security experts report that bad actors are increasingly targeting local financial departments by mimicking high-level executives and long-term suppliers to authorize fraudulent transactions. Deepfake CEO Fraud and AI Tactics The use of deepfake technology has enabled scammers to bypass traditional security protocols by creating realistic audio and video clones of CEOs and managing directors. These digital replicas are used during video calls or via voice notes to pressure employees into making urgent, unauthorized fund transfers. Security analysts note that AI-powered phishing emails have also become nearly indistinguishable from legitimate corporate communications, lacking the grammatical errors that previously served as warning signs. The Rise of Fake Supplier Scams Beyond executive impersonation, UAE businesses are reporting a surge in "Business Email Compromise" (BEC) involving fake suppliers. Criminals gain access to legitimate email threads or create look-alike domains to notify…