How you can protect yourself from AI voice cloning scams
Updated August 30, 2024 | Published July 22, 2024
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Categories:
- Security & Fraud Prevention
While AI (Artificial Intelligence) is making jobs easier for people across industries, it’s also helping scammers use more advanced tactics to deceive you and your loved ones. AI can comb through the internet, including all social media sites, for voice recordings and posts. These powerful tools only need 3 seconds of a voice recording to replicate it. They can collect enough information about you to convince a friend or family member that they are talking to you with AI voice cloning.
How scammers are using AI
Scammers can collect your voice recording a couple of ways. One way, as we described above, is using AI to crawl the internet for recordings of you. The second way is by calling you and recording what you say after you’ve picked up the phone. Even as little as you saying “Hello? Who is this?” is enough for them to capture your voice and impersonate you. This is one reason why you should always steer clear of picking up calls from unknown numbers.
Once they have a recording of your voice, they will use the AI tool to speak with your friends or family, asking for things like money or sensitive information that they can use to log into your online accounts. They will typically cause alarm by insinuating you are in some trouble and need the money urgently. Scammers are not only impersonating voices of those close to you, but there were also reports in January 2024 of an AI voice message from President Joe Biden targeting voters in New Hampshire.
In today’s fast-paced digital world, staying aware of new scams like AI voice cloning is crucial. This technology can convincingly mimic the voices of people you trust, making it tough to spot a fake call. I encourage all our members to always verify who’s on the other end, especially if they’re asking for sensitive info or money. Take a moment to double-check, and if something feels off, give our branch a call directly. Your security is our priority, and we’re here to help you stay protected.
– Kevin Medeiros, Information Security Officer at Webster First Federal Credit Union.
So, what steps can you take to spot these phony calls and protect yourself?
How to stop the scammers
- Do not pick up phone calls from unknown numbers. If it’s genuinely somebody you know trying to reach you, they will leave a message.
- Refrain from posting public recordings of yourself speaking on the internet.
- If you’ve received a suspicious call that sounded like someone you know, call or text their trusted number to confirm you actually had a conversation with them. Any caller asking you to wire money should be an immediate red flag.
- Develop a safe word to use with friends and family over the phone. A word that only they will know so you can confirm their identity. This should be kept secret and not shared or stored in a place where it could be stolen, like the notes app on your phone.
- Report the call to the FTC.
For more security & fraud prevention tips, click here.