A 2025 survey by Regula found that 49% of businesses worldwide have already been hit by audio or video deepfake scams. Deepfake & synthetic-media issues are rising faster than most people realize with numbers like this, New Jersey lawmakers, companies, and local organizations are becoming increasingly concerned about how synthetic media can be used for fraud, impersonation, and misinformation.
In early 2025, a multinational firm nearly wired US $499,000 after executives joined what seemed like a routine internal video conference. The “CFO” and other senior staff appeared on the screen — and sounded authentic, issuing urgent instructions for a confidential fund transfer.
Every face and voice on the call was a high‑quality deepfake. The finance director only recognized the fraud when irregularities surfaced — and the transfer was thankfully halted just in time.
🧠 But what are deepfakes and synthetic media?
Deepfakes are AI-generated audio, images, or videos designed to imitate real people. Synthetic media is the broader category that includes AI-generated voice, video, and other content.
In New Jersey, such technologies raise concern, given how easily they can be misused to mislead customers, impersonate other users, or influence public perception.
⚖️ Is New Jersey regulating deepfakes?
Yes, New Jersey is among the U.S. states that have enacted laws to criminalize the creation and distribution of deceptive AI-generated media. This includes fake audio or video meant to misrepresent individuals. Offenders may face up to five years in prison, and victims can pursue civil suits.
That means companies and individuals must be careful with internal or public-facing communications that use AI-generated media.
- As per the 2024 Global Call Threat Report by Hiya, deepfake voice scams are among the most financially damaging fraud calls. While the average victim of a typical fraud call lost about US $539, losses from AI-generated deepfake calls are often far higher — many victims report losses over US $6,000.
- The 2025 analysis from Pindrop shows a 1,300% increase in deepfake-related fraud attempts over 2024 — with synthetic-voice attacks surging especially in banking, insurance, and retail sectors.
These confirm that deepfake and synthetic-media risks are not hypothetical. They’re already impacting organizations and individuals — with serious financial and reputational consequences.
🛡️ What can organizations do to protect themselves?
You don’t need to be an AI expert. Start with simple but effective steps:
- Train employees to recognize AI-generated scams or suspicious communications.
- Implement content-verification tools to detect deepfakes or synthetic audio/video.
- Use strong identity verification and MFA (multi-factor authentication) — especially for financial or sensitive communications.
- Harden network, cloud, and email security infrastructure to reduce exposure to scams.
- Establish internal policies about acceptable and prohibited AI usage and media distribution.
If you operate in finance, healthcare, legal services, or other regulated industries — especially in New Jersey — taking these steps is more than advisable.
🔒 How can The SamurAI help New Jersey businesses?
At The SamurAI, we specialize in cybersecurity and AI-driven defense solutions that directly address deepfake-related risks. We’ll help you stay protected, compliant, and prepared by:
- Deploying AI-powered threat detection that flags synthetic-media attacks before they cause damage.
- Setting up secure network infrastructure and identity-verification workflows to reduce exposure.
- Developing internal policies and staff training on safe AI use and deepfake awareness.
- Building incident response plans — so if a deepfake or synthetic-media incident occurs, you’re ready.
- Securing cloud environments and communication tools where many AI-driven scams originate.
Deepfake and synthetic-media regulation — and the real risks behind them — are already here in New Jersey. With growing numbers of deepfake fraud cases affecting businesses and individuals alike, awareness and protection matter more than ever.
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Book a consultation with The SamurAI today and adapt to new regulations without overwhelming your team.