Deepfake job seeker applied to work for an AI security firm

Deepfake technology collided with old-fashioned hiring practices when cybersecurity expert Jason Rebholz found himself interviewing what appeared to be a completely fabricated job candidate. The CEO of AI security firm Expel watched red flags pile up during a virtual interview: an anime profile picture, an AI-generated resume, and urgent follow-up messages that screamed scammer playbook.

But when the candidate finally turned on his camera after a suspicious 30-second delay, Rebholz saw a blurry, plastic-looking face with a green screen reflection in the glasses and disappearing dimples. "What if I'm wrong? Even though I'm 95 percent sure I'm right here, what if I'm wrong and I'm impacting another human's ability to get a job?" Rebholz wondered, describing his "inner turmoil" during the surreal conversation.

This North Korean IT worker scam has become so common that Amazon blocked 1,800 suspected fraudsters in 2024 alone, with applications increasing 27 percent quarter over quarter. The scheme costs American businesses tens of millions annually, sometimes leading to data theft and corporate extortion when fake workers actually get hired.