A new startup launched today aims to revolutionize the fight against AI-powered financial fraud and deepfakes with what it claims is the industry’s first real-time defense system. Polyguard’s platform provides proactive protection against multi-channel fraud and impersonation attacks, addressing a growing threat that’s expected to cost the U.S. financial industry billions in the coming years.
The system integrates directly with existing call center software and popular meeting platforms like Zoom to secure virtual communications. Its key features include real-time blocking of spoofed phone numbers, identity-verified encrypted calling channels, and secure video conferencing protected by 3D facial recognition and hardware attestation technology.
“Phone scams are at the heart of a $40B crime spree, and we are committed to stopping it at the technological source,” said Joshua McKenty, Polyguard’s CEO and Co-founder. “Everyone from bankers to high school students are facing an onslaught of deepfake-driven scams, from voice spoofing to video impersonation.”
The company’s launch comes as financial institutions face mounting losses from sophisticated AI-powered fraud schemes. Industry data shows fraud losses have escalated steeply since 2023, with deepfake scams becoming a particular concern among private banking customers.
Polyguard’s approach focuses on prevention rather than detection, aiming to block fraudulent communications before they reach their intended targets. The platform creates tamper-evident caller identity verification and implements hardware-level security measures to prevent device spoofing.
The company brings significant expertise to the challenge, led by McKenty, former NASA Chief Cloud Architect and OpenStack co-founder, alongside CTO Khadem Badiyan, an AI startup founder and mathematician known for pioneering work in social media image analysis.
Early adopters include family offices and financial institutions looking to protect their communications. The platform is also being pitched to professional advisors and individuals seeking enhanced protection against AI-powered fraud attempts.
Sources: The Malaysian Reserve, PR Newswire, AIThority
—
March 27, 2025 – by the ID Tech Editorial Team
