In a dynamic and interactive session at the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), David Clarke, CSO of Guildhawk and former Head of the City of London Police Fraud Squad, joined by CEO Jurga Zilinskiene MBE, took global risk leaders on a journey exposing the radical evolution of digital threats and the key role of ethical AI tools in fraud prevention.
They engaged a captive audience of finance and security professionals in a session titled, "From Faxes to Deepfakes: The New Face of Fraud," delivering a stark, practical warning about the vulnerability of corporate defenses in the age of generative AI.
Picture: David presents ACCA speaking engagement 1: Transforming risk management and fraud prevention.
"This is war": the leap from faxes to deepfakes
The presentation opened with an interesting challenge from David Clarke: “This is war – AI: Friend or Foe?”
Attendees were shown how fraud has moved far beyond rudimentary scams to today’s highly sophisticated deepfake video calls. The speakers referenced the example of the £20m scam that recently hit a UK engineering firm after an employee was duped by AI-generated avatars, emphasising that the speed and realism of AI-driven deceit represent an existential threat to organisational trust.
The session drove home the human cost of these digital attacks:
- The devastating “Elizabeth, I love you” romance scam, where criminals used fake online personas to con a woman out of £1.6m.
- The rising legal dangers of "get-rich-quick" mentoring schemes and business misrepresentation enabled by digital identity fraud.
Through live polls, the audience debated their ability to spot a high-quality AI avatar or detect danger in manipulated digital images. The results confirmed a core vulnerability: even experts are vulnerable without the right tools and training.
How to fight AI with AI: practical strategies for the C-suite
The talk shifted from assessment to action, providing a clear call for proactive defences. The speakers challenged the audience to rethink their approach to security, offering three immediate strategies:
- Protect your data: “Your opponent will use it against you. Quantum computing will find your secrets!” warned David Clarke, emphasising the immediate need for robust data security protocols.
- Train your people: The speakers identified employees as the weakest link, noting, “People still click malicious links right after training.” Continuous, immersive education is mandatory.
- Buy or build safe AI: “Tried and tested AI tools give you big results quickly. You have scissors at home, but do you cut your own hair?” expressed Jurga Zilinskiene MBE. This highlighted that leveraging secure, expert-validated AI is faster and safer than risky internal development.
The ROI of ethical AI and human oversight
The speakers demonstrated how Guildhawk’s own secure platform, GAI Translate, and its digital human avatars are actively being used by police, legal, and industrial clients to communicate securely, reach vulnerable communities, and automate fraud detection.
The session closed with a vision of AI as a powerful force for productivity and efficiency, citing client results showing up to 80% savings and case studies where a £1m spend was reduced to just £40k through secure automation.
The final, resonant message was clear: only those who combine cutting-edge technology with vigilance, ethics, and human intelligence will win the battle against fraud in the AI age.
About ACCA
ACCA stands for the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, a global professional body that accredits and supports accountants worldwide. Founded in 1904, ACCA offers a globally recognised qualification that develops professionals with financial and business skills for careers in accounting, management, and consultancy. The organisation focuses on upholding high professional and ethical values, providing cutting-edge qualifications, and building a strong global accountancy profession that benefits society at large.
About Guildhawk
Guildhawk is a global leader in AI-powered communication and data security, renowned for its human-first approach to technology. Its flagship product,
GAI Translate, is built on a foundation of ISO-27001 certification and a team of over 3,000 vetted and certified linguists, providing secure, contextually relevant, and insured communication solutions for regulated industries worldwide.
For a demo and free trial, speak with rita.hinterleithner@guildhawk.com
To see more uses cases visit: www.guildhawk.com or www.gaitranslate.ai
