Imagine getting an email that looks like it’s from your CEO or a trusted vendor. It sounds urgent. It asks for a quick payment or a wire transfer. Everything about it feels real.
The problem? It isn’t.
Deepfake scams are becoming more common—and healthcare organizations are a prime target.
A deepfake scam uses fake emails, voices, or videos made to look like a real person. Attackers often impersonate:
Executives
Vendors
Finance leaders
The goal is simple: create urgency and get someone to send money or sensitive information before they stop to question it.
Healthcare organizations move fast. Staff handle urgent requests every day, often under pressure.
Attackers know this. They rely on:
Busy schedules
Trust in leadership
The desire to act quickly
When patient care is involved, people don’t want to slow things down—and scammers take advantage of that.
Most deepfake scams follow a familiar pattern:
An email or message marked “urgent”
A request that feels out of the ordinary
Pressure to act quickly
Instructions not to verify with anyone else
If it feels rushed, that’s usually the point.
One successful scam can lead to:
Significant financial loss
Delays in operations
Security investigations
Loss of trust
In healthcare, these disruptions don’t just affect finances—they can affect patient care.
Warning signs include:
Payment requests outside normal processes
Slight changes in email addresses
Requests to bypass approval steps
Messages that discourage calling or confirming
A pause to verify can stop a major problem.
Strong protection includes:
Clear payment verification policies
Staff awareness training
Email security tools
Multi-step approval processes
Security doesn’t have to slow work—it just needs to add a safety net.
Healthcare moves fast, but financial security requires a moment of caution. Taking a few extra minutes to verify a request can prevent weeks of cleanup later.
When it comes to urgent emails asking for money, it’s okay to slow down.
Deepfake scams are convincing, but they’re not unstoppable. With the right processes and security in place, healthcare organizations can stay protected without disrupting care.
Trust your instincts—and always verify.
One fake email can lead to a very real financial loss. Healthcare organizations need security tools and processes that slow things down just enough to stop fraud.
TotalCare IT helps healthcare teams build smarter security layers that protect finances without slowing patient care.
Explore our cybersecurity services.