AI Deep Fakes: Is that really you, Mom? (and how to counter them!)

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Deepfakes, scams, and your identity: what protection services really do

It’s getting harder and harder to tell what’s real online. One minute, you’re scrolling through social media; the next, you see a video of someone who looks exactly like your favorite celebrity — or worse, like you. AI “deepfakes” are realistic videos or audio created with artificial intelligence to make people appear to say or do things they never actually did.

These deepfakes can look frighteningly real, and scammers are already using them in dangerous ways — from impersonating company leaders to trick employees into wiring money, to copying a family member’s voice to demand “urgent” help. While no consumer service can stop someone from fabricating a video of you in the first place, there are tools that help you catch, contain, and recover from this kind of abuse.

What deepfakes are and why they matter

Think of a deepfake as a high‑tech disguise. AI tools can learn your face, gestures, and voice from photos, video clips, or audio online, then generate new media that looks and sounds convincing — sometimes even to trained professionals.

Cybercriminals are using these tools to manipulate people by:

• Pretending to be your boss to request money or sensitive information.
• Posing as relatives or friends asking for emergency funds.
• Creating fake videos to damage reputations, influence opinions, or spread misinformation.

That’s why protecting your identity today isn’t just about strong passwords or antivirus software — it’s also about monitoring how your personal information and online identity are being used, and having professional help if something goes wrong. idshield+1

What identity protection services actually do

Most identity protection services do not “block” deepfakes or prevent someone from creating one of you. Instead, they focus on:

• Monitoring your personal data: Watching for signs your information is being misused, such as suspicious accounts, transactions, or data appearing on the dark web. safehome+3[youtube]\
• Sending alerts: Notifying you quickly when your information or accounts show signs of fraud, so you can act fast. safehome+3
• Helping with restoration: Providing specialists who help you clean up the damage, dispute fraudulent accounts, and restore your identity, often backed by insurance coverage. comerica+3

Some services also include device and network tools (like VPNs, antivirus, or anti‑tracking) that reduce the chances of your data being stolen in the first place, but they still can’t reach into social media or private chats and “turn off” a deepfake. security+1

Where IDShield fits in (and how others compare)

IDShield is one example of this kind of service. It focuses on proactive monitoring across multiple areas of your life (financial accounts, social media, dark web, and more), real‑time alerts, and hands‑on help from licensed investigators if fraud occurs. That support can be crucial if, for example, a deepfake is used as part of a broader identity fraud scheme or scam. idshield+3

Other companies — such as Aura, LifeLock (often bundled with Norton), Identity Guard, IdentityForce, and IdentityIQ — offer similar combinations of monitoring, alerts, and restoration support, sometimes with different mixes of credit monitoring, insurance limits, device protection, and online privacy tools. The right choice for you depends less on the brand name and more on: aura+5

• What they monitor (credit bureaus, bank accounts, dark web, social media, etc.).
• How fast and detailed their alerts are.
• The quality of their restoration help and how much coverage they provide if you become a victim.

Whichever service you choose, it’s more accurate to think of it as a safety net and response team for identity‑related fallout from scams and deepfakes, not as a shield that prevents bad actors from ever creating a fake of you.

Practical steps you can take

Even with a good identity protection service, your own habits still matter. To reduce the risk and impact of deepfake‑driven scams:

• Be cautious with urgent requests, especially involving money or sensitive information — even if they appear to come from someone you know.
• Use a “call back on a known number” rule: If you get a suspicious video or voice message, verify through a separate channel before acting.
• Limit what you share publicly (videos, voice notes, personal details), since this is the raw material deepfake tools learn from.
• Consider an identity protection service as part of your overall strategy, so if someone does misuse your identity, you’re not handling it alone. idshield+5

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Why IDShield? 

IDShield treats AI fraud as an identity problem, not just a tech problem

• AI scams usually succeed by stealing or misusing your identity (accounts, credentials, SSN, images, voice), not just by tricking your device. idshield+3

• IDShield is built around ongoing identity monitoring, alerts, and restoration—not just antivirus—so it’s aligned with how AI fraud actually hurts real people in 2026. idshield+4

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Continuous monitoring for AI‑driven misuse of your data

• IDShield watches credit, financial accounts, dark web markets, public records, and more for suspicious use of your information that may come from AI‑powered scams or data leaks. geekwire+5

• As AI makes fraud faster and more automated, this “always‑on” monitoring helps catch problems early—before they snowball into full‑blown identity theft. yardleywealth+4

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Fast alerts and real humans when something looks wrong

• IDShield sends near‑real‑time alerts when it detects signs of fraud, giving you a chance to respond before bigger damage occurs. idshield+4

• Unlike purely automated tools, IDShield backs you with licensed private investigators who will actually do the restoration work on your behalf, not just give you a checklist. cnet+3

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Full‑scale restoration in an era of complex AI fraud

• If an AI‑enabled scam leads to account takeovers, fraudulent loans, or synthetic identities built using your data, IDShield’s investigators work to restore your identity to pre‑theft status. idshield+3

• Plans include substantial identity theft insurance (up to around the multimillion‑dollar range) to help cover certain out‑of‑pocket costs tied to recovery. geekwire+1

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Education and coaching for deepfakes and AI scams

• IDShield produces up‑to‑date guidance on emerging AI scams, deepfake risks, and practical red‑flag training so members know what to look for before they click, answer, or wire money. idshield+4

• In a world where deepfake detection tech alone is unreliable, informed behavior plus monitoring and restoration support is one of the strongest defenses. vectra+3

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Honest positioning vs. “magic shield” claims

• No consumer service can stop a scammer from creating a deepfake of you, but IDShield can help you detect resulting fraud faster and repair the damage with expert help. idshield+4

• The real value in 2026 is having a proactive identity safety net—monitoring, alerts, education, and hands‑on restoration—rather than a promise to “block” AI outright. yardleywealth+

Note: This post was drafted with help from an AI assistant — and edited by a very human 82‑year‑old who has no intention of becoming the next victim. (wracton@gmail.com)

Celebrating 20 years of Haptic and the "virtual peaceful-of-mind" of the road ahead!

Hard to believe it was over 20 years ago that we stumbled into the idea that touch would immeasurably complement use of gesture in pronunciation teaching. The concept has now evolved to v8.0 and will be offered, as usual, as an online course, beginning the week of February 9th. Please pass on the word; if you have a group of students, contact me directly. (wracton@gmail.com)

In addition, as suggested above, I'm now associated with LegalShield and company, among the top providers of subscriber-based legal, identity and dark web protection. It is very affordable and, depending on the extent of your life on the web and the rapid emergence of the threat of AI, is becoming more and more essential/critical for many of us. (Here's my website: williamacton.legalshieldassociate.com) . Check it out and/or get in touch and I'll be happy to give you the tour! (Here's a nice 10-minute link that describes the Legal and Identity Shield systems: https://ltl.is/djkyfqn89)

Keep in touch!

Bill

 

English accent and pronunciation improvement course LITE (EAPIC!)

Course begins with recorded introduction on February 6th!

In about two months make good progress in improving your English accent or pronunciation and be trained in how to keep on improving after the course. This is an 8-week, shorter more compact version of the regular English Accent and Pronunciation Course. (See the description of the full 12-week course here.) 

• The recorded, 30-minute weekly training lessons are free, available on Thursdays on Youtube.
• The next week on Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST there is a live  Zoom feedback session on that lesson for students who are enrolled in the course (for $200 USD.)
• The feedback sessions are recorded, so you can always access them later if you are enrolled. 
• At least be sure to watch the free Thursday training videos!!!

To really benefit from the course, you should do all the assigned homework for enrolled students, about 30 minutes per day. This is also a good course for an instructor who wants an introduction to haptic pronunciation teaching. 

The course officially begins Thursday February 6th, but you can join it anytime and still get caught up!  To enrol, just pay the $200 for the weekly Zoom feedback lessons and the homework assignments.

 All lessons are recorded and available later in day after the lesson. 

 For more information or to sign up, contact me, william.acton@twu.ca.

Keep in touch!

Bill

Bill Acton has been teaching accent and pronunciation improvement for about 50 years! This course, Version 7.0 of KINETIK system, contains many new techniques based on research in pronunciation teaching and neuroscience. Bill is now living in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Spring 23 KINETIK Courses!

Spring 2023 KINETIK courses now scheduled. 

KINETIK Method: a full-body/haptic approach to both pronunciation teaching and enhancing memory for course content. (Haptic: employing movement/gesture and touch)

English Fluency and Pronunciation Course

• For nonnative English speaking students, adults of upper intermediate level and above
• For those who need to improve their speaking fluency and pronunciation of English.
• Especially designed for those who do not have the opportunity to speak English often enough, or have pronunciation problems that are difficult to change.

• 11 weeks in length, 75 minutes per week, plus optional, 60-minute review session

 begins on January 26^th, 2023.

Thursdays, 5:00~6:15 p.m. – Live Class--on campus (or by viewing the class video later)

 Homework: 15-20 minutes per day for best results. 

Wednesdays, 5:00-6:00 p.m. -- Optional homework practice review on Zoom (or by viewing the class videos later)

• Instructor: Bill Acton, MATESOL Department, Trinity Western University 
• For additional information: william.acton@twu.ca
• Certificate is awarded for 80% attendance. Books and recorded practice videos are provided.

• Course fee: $500 CAD for on campus course. ($200 CAD for access to the 11 class videos only)

***

KINETIK Method Instructor Certificate Course: 12 weeks, Online, beginning 1/30

• Objectives
• Basics of haptic pronunciation teaching
• Techniques for enhancing memory for course content
• Enhanced (instructor's) classroom speaking model and pedagogical presence 
• Weekly schedule
• 30-minute training (recorded, available Monday)
• ~60 minutes of "homework" (pre-reading and practice)
• 60-minute live seminar on Zoom (arranged according to participants' schedules, usually on Saturday evening, PST)
• $600 USD, materials provided
• Certificate provided upon successful completion
• Full-refund (no questions asked) up to Week 4
• Preliminary Zoom interview required (contact: wracton@gmail.com)

If you are an instructor, considering having your students take EFPC, contact me and I'll be happy to discuss the course with you. With sufficient enrolment, both courses can be offered for just one school.

New! 2022 Acton Haptic English Fluency and Pronunciation Courses!

As promised, the new (Amazing!) KINETIK Method student and instructor courses are ready to go! 

KINETIK Method: Embodied fluency, content and pronunciation enhancement

Features

• Instructor training certificate courses (12 weeks) 
• Student courses (applicable for literate adult learners, upper beginner level and above--10 weeks)
• Available for individuals or groups
• Online only, on Zoom, 2 hours of "live" class per week and 3~6 hours of homework
• Cost varies, depending on class size, from $200~$1500
• Use of embodied techniques for improving students’ fluency, memory for course content, vocabulary and intelligibility

For the instructor:

• Training in doing effective in-class feedback and correction
• Requires no previous formal training in pronunciation teaching or basic pedagogical phonetics
• Designed for instructors who do not have enough space in their lesson plans for pronunciation and effective homework assignments
• Designed for instructors who value greater engagement of the body in instruction and general body “consciousness and agency.”
• Provides improved personal “pedagogical voice” in classroom and classwork
• A complete method: one adaptable for most learners and contexts

For the student:

• Makes you easier to understand
• Fixes most important pronunciation problems
• Makes correction easier. . . self correction, correction by teachers and peers
• Increases confidence in speaking in conversationi
• Allows you to use what you “know” but may not be able to use in speaking 
• Especially good for students who do not have much opportunity to practice speaking English outside of class
• Includes effective system for continued study after the course

Why rhythm first, using gesture and touch:

• Rhythm is basic to speaking and understanding language!
• Gesture helps us emphasize rhythm and remember language.
• Touch helps us bring our senses together to learn. remember better and control attention and body movement, in general.
• Rhythm is key to integrating changed sound patterns.

Classes are available, beginning February 1st.

For more information: www.actonhaptic.com/KINETIK or email me directly at wracton@gmail.com

 

Zoom(h)aptic: Haptic Pronunciation Teaching online

Keeping in touch doing pronunciation online with your students a problem? We've been working with what we call "haptic videos" for over a decade. Basically by that we mean using video models that learners move along with and in the process use gestures that are mediated and regulated by touch. (The touch usually occurs in the path of a speech-synchronized gesture where the stressed syllable in the word or phrase is articulated.) 

Just read a fun piece by Powers and Parisi on Techcrunch.com (hat tip to haptician Skye Playsted) The hype, haplessness and hope of haptics in the COVID-19 era, I'll focus a bit on the latter! What they get to is a number of haptic technologies, some of which at least promise to help us touch during COVID so we don't pass on something, such as virtual bank "touch" screens that feel to your fingers like you are actually touching the buttons when, in fact, you aren't. They also mention the sort of thing we have been following here for years such as haptic prosthetics, full-body suits and vests and gaming consoles. 

What we have discovered in doing haptic pronunciation teaching online for the last few years is that having learners "dance" along with us haptically, with extensive use of gesture and touch as they repeat or speaking spontaneously from various perspectives, is that the work really does "connect" us. Because the gesture complexes (pedagogical movement patterns - PMPs) are very easy to teach and conduct on Zoom, for instance, everybody (or every body) should get the sense of greater participation and what we term "haptic presence." 

Years of research on mirror neurons has demonstrated that if you are paying careful attention to the motions of another your brain is experiencing much of what is happening as if you, yourself, were the source of the action. What that means is that after students have been introduced to the gestural patterns--by doing them along with select phrases, when they see them again, it should (and generally does from our experience) resonate with them. In informal experiments where we ask students NOT to move along with us, they report that their bodies generally cannot help but move along to some degree. (That is a doctoral degree research project for any haptician who is interested!!!)

So . . . pack up your mirror neurons and go over the www.actonhaptic.com and look at the demonstration videos. And, while you are at it, check our our latest webinar with IATEFL on HaPT! After you do, come back and we'll sign you up for some HaPT training. Right now we are still in v4.5 but v5.0 "ActonHaptic Pronunciation Complement" will be rolling out later this fall!

Next Haptic Pronunciation Teaching (Free!) Webinars!

We (the MATESOL at Trinity Western University) are doing two FREE introductory webinars on haptic pronunciation teaching: Friday, October 2nd and Saturday, November 14th, 2020. The webinars are held from 7:30 p.m. PST to 9:00. Contact: william.acton@twu.ca for more information and reservations.  (Places limited!) At least two reasons we are offering those: 

First, "haptic" is the only way to teach pronunciation (at least in our modest opinion!) 

Second, every spring, beginning in mid-January, we offer an online, 3-credit graduate course, Ling 611 - Applied Phonology. Roughly one quarter of that course is "Haptic Pronunciation Teaching." 

For more detail on the webinars noncredit haptic course and the grad course, go here! 

You can apply to take either the regular course (for about $2200 CAD, as a special student) or the noncredit haptic stream by itself (for about $500--comes with a certificate.)

You do need some prerequisite work to do Ling 611, for example, some background in phonetics, linguistics and pronunciation teaching. (Check with me if you have a question on that.) No prereqs required for the haptic stream, however. The grad course runs 14 weeks; the haptic certificate, 12. The grad course takes about 8~10 hours a week; the certificate, about 3. 

Ling 611 or the certificate course can also be hosted at your school or program, done for groups or individually.  

See you next month!

Bill

william.acton@twu.ca

Gestured pronunciation instruction: Better online?

Clker.com

It is now well-established in several fields that "Students learn more when their teacher has learned to gesture effectively" (Alibali, Young, Crooks, Yeo, Wolfgram, Ledesma, Nathan, Breckinridge-Church and Knuth, 2013). In pronunciation work use of "live" models is typically limited to either "talking heads" often zeroing in on the mouth or a recording of an instructor presenting something resembling a typical lesson with explanation and practice. If you have never spent some time experiencing some of what is now out there from the learner's perspective, stop for a bit and join us when you have. Most of it mind-numbing, at best.

Clker.com

Although there is no research that I am aware of focusing in on the specific contribution of video to pronunciation instruction, the assumption seems to be simply that the "better" (the production quality), the more effective. There is a rapidly growing market for web-based, visually compelling teaching of pronunciation.

One of the obvious problems with video-based instruction, especially the more visually captivating, ironically, is the potential for viewers to drop back into "TV-trance-mode", absorbing but not doing much processing or demonstrating meaningful engagement. (There is also a very serious issue with visual modality overpowering auditory and kinaesthetic, as well.) In pronunciation work, where re-education of the body is central, not enthusiastically joining "the dance" is a deal breaker . . . One key contribution of gesture to instruction is to create stronger engagement and enhancement of moment-by-moment attention.

A 2014 study, The effect of gestured instruction on the learning of physical causality problems by Carlson, Jacobs, Perry and Ruth Breckinridge-Church demonstrates how systematic use of gesture by instructors on video can significantly improve learning of another "physical" process. Subjects who viewed the "gesture-articulated" instructor, rather than just the spoken presentation did better on the post test. This study is particularly relevant in that it deals with gesture enabling cognition of what is a very "tactile" concept, that of manipulating gear movement and direction.

AMPISys, Inc.

In haptic pronunciation teaching as unpacked in several earlier posts, it is apparently the case that not only is gesture with video more effective, but gesture+video+touch is even better. The basic reasons for that are that (a) touch makes gesture not only more systematic but (b) provides it with more impact, (c) whether done by the learner or just observed. And furthermore, (d) just training learners in haptic-anchored gesture, at least initially, is for many, if not most, instructors simply too far outside of their comfort and zone of "haptic intelligence." (See Research References page)

I came up with this system over a decade ago and still use videos (of myself) when introducing students to the basic gestural inventory, or pedagogical movement patterns (PMP). I'm just so much better online . . . (and you will be, too!)

References:
Alibali, M., Young, A., Crooks, N., Yeo, A., Wolfgram, M., Ledesma, I., Nathan, M.,  Breckinridge Church, R. and E. Knuth. (2013). Students learn more when their teacher has learned to gesture effectively. Gesture 13:2, 210–233.
Carlson, C., Jacobs, S.,  Perry, M. and R. Breckinridge-Church. (2014). The effect of gestured instruction on the learning of physical causality problems. Gesture 14:1, 26–45.

NEW! Put some "PIP!" in your Pronunciation! (AH-EPS, one-on-one, Pronunciation Improvement Program!)

New! Acton Haptic Individual (1x1), online Pronunciation Improvement Program (AH-PIP)

In this program (AH-PIP) you do a module in AH-EPS with workbook and DVDs or on Vimeo.com, and then can connect up with an AH-EPS instructor to review what you have done and discuss what to do next. (Followed up by an email report on the consultation within 24 hours.)

We recommend doing an optional 30-minute SKYPE consultation after each module, at least at the beginning of the program.

Course package ($129 CAD, plus shipping) includes: 

(1)  A set of Teacher DVDs, plus one download of the Instructor's Guide.

(2)  A set of Student DVDs, plus one download of the Student Workbook. (You do need a hard copy of the workbook to do the course.) A hardcopy of the workbook is also available for $20 plus shipping: https://www.getonic.com/Popshop/130062/7535

(3)  One Initial, introductory 30-minute SKYPE consultation to evaluate your pronunciation work and explain the program.  

(4) The first, 30-minute SKYPE consultation (To be done after Module #1 work is completed.) 

One module takes about a week to complete, 1.5~2 hours. It is best to do one module per week, followed by an optional consultation, but do at least one module every two weeks.  SKYPE consultations are an additional $25 each. Total cost for the program, doing consultations after every module is $350, plus shipping. 

Also available is the AH-EPS Accent Reduction program for nonnative English speaking professionals and instructors.
For more information, email: info@actonhaptic.com

EHIEP "haptic video" system development update!

 By late February everything should be ready for use in local programs, most anywhere on the planet. At this point, these courses could be in several formats: 

Image: AMPISys

• A one-hour introductory session and then 
• 8 or 9 weeks of classes, one module per week (or just selected modules, relevant for that class)
• Each class would begin with a 30-minute instructional video, and then
• could involve either 
•      *immediate in class follow up by the instructor, or
•      *assigned homework, or 
•      *(simply) integrated use of the techniques by the instructor in subsequent speaking, listening or vocabulary instruction. 
• For each module there are 3 homework practice videos, accompanied by a section from the student workbook. 
• There are also about 12, 5-minute mini-modules for selected consonants. 

Image: AMPISys

EHIEP can be done

• online, 
• in schools or at
• informal venues,
• as independent study,
• by trained or untrained instructors.

Based in part  on the recent "TED" blogpost, will have some new video to introduce the EHIEP system, etc. to prospective students. Have been talking with the university about collaboration in some venues to get official certificates or join in w/advertising, etc. Will also set up "profit sharing" framework for other potential partners who run or sponsor a class. 

Am setting up one-day teacher training workshops in a number of places, beginning in April. (We are doing one already at the TESOL convention in Dallas.) The idea there will be to do a day of training at relatively low cost to participants and then make available the online video and materials, either by download or subscription. WIll announce those here as they are confirmed. 

If you'd like to try out a specific, pre-publication EHIEP "haptic" video in your class, let me know. (wracton@gmail.com)

Better online? Video modelling for line dancing and pronunciation

Clip art: Clker

Clip art: Clker

Video modelling is used extensively in many education and training contexts. The previous post sketched out reasons for using a video model to teach EHIEP techniques, rather than doing it yourself, "in person." (Even a video model of yourself on the screen is generally  better than you "live!" You can also, of course, get training videos from the "EHIEP Store" when it opens in Spring 2013!) For a number of reasons, the use of that procedure is also highly effective with autism. (See this summary by Twyman on "Autism Community" blog of a recent dissertation,  "The Use of Video Prompting on the Acquisition, Maintenance, and Generalization of a Line Dance by Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders," by Gies at Ohio State University. In that study, the basic protocol was structured as follows:

a. View video segment   AND   b. Attempt to imitate
c. Error correction   AND   d. Reinforcement
e. Maintenance checks   AND   f. Generalization checks

Those phases could as well describe an EHIEP training protocol and follow up. (a) and (b) represent the initial introduction and training of a technique on video. (c) and (d) happen when a target sound is either presented or corrected in class. (e) is generally done as homework; (f) represents the (inevitable) recognition of change by either instructor or student. Notice "b" -- attempt to imitate. That is for many about all it takes, not mastery of the pedagogical movement patterns or the target sound initially. Don't take my word for it.  Ask Brad Paisley.