Stay Safe from AI Voice Cloning Scams

Scammers know that when potential victims believe they are speaking with someone whom they actually know and trust, they’re less likely to verify the details of requests for money or sensitive financial data. 

Here’s what you should know about this increasingly prevalent scam and what you can do to protect yourself from becoming a victim.

A Typical AI Voice Cloning Scam Scenario

(环! 环!)

Scammer (AI Voice Clone): Hey Peggy, it’s your cousin Ralph. Something urgent has come up. I hate asking for help, but I’m in a bind.

佩吉: 哦，嘿，拉尔夫! 你还好吗?? 你听起来怪怪的.

骗子: Well, I took a spontaneous trip abroad, and I’ve found myself in a bit of a mess. 我的钱包被偷了. I’m stranded, and I have no money and no ID.

佩吉: 这是可怕的!

骗子: The embassy is taking forever to help me, and I really need your help to get out of this situation. So, I was hoping you could overnight me some gift cards to cover my hotel and help me eat until the embassy sorts things out.

佩吉: 你需要多少钱?

骗子: Can you send me $1,500 in Visa gift cards? Most places accept them around here.

 佩吉: 哎哟! 那是一大笔钱.

骗子: I know, but things are scary here. I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I get home. 你能帮我吗??

佩吉: 嗯,好吧.

骗子: 谢谢你，佩吉! 你真是个救星! Here are the details of where to send the gift cards.

Warning Signs of an AI Voice Cloning Scam

AI voice cloning technology has advanced rapidly, enabling scammers to imitate voices with remarkable precision. 然而, 如果你保持警惕, you’ll pick up on red flags that can tip you off that your caller just might be a potential scammer. 这些危险信号包括:

• 诉诸情感. Be cautious when a caller attempts to incite panic or urgency, asserting that they’re in danger or require immediate assistance.
   
• Requesting unusual methods of financial help. Be wary of callers who insist on only accepting financial help through methods difficult to trace, like gift cards or cryptocurrencies, as this is a common indicator of a scam.
   
• 声音的问题. Sometimes low-quality AI voice cloning software can lead to sound quality problems, 比如静态, 呼应, or fluctuating volume levels. Listen closely to the voice for irregularities—unnatural pauses or unusual speech patterns. Even advanced AI voice cloning technology might carry traces of minor imperfections.
   
• 野生的故事. Scammers often concoct elaborate narratives to convince you to comply with their requests. If the situation seems far-fetched or implausible, trust your intuition that a scammer may be at work.

Protect Yourself from an AI Voice Cloning Scam

Shield yourself from AI voice scammers by creating a challenge question, 码字, or phrase that you and your loved ones can use to quickly confirm emergency situations. This is often the best defense since you will be able to immediately identify whether the caller is a scammer.

If you receive an urgent call before setting up your challenge question or 码字 or phrase, remember to slow your reaction during the call. Scammers will try to pressure you into making quick decisions. When a caller tries to rush you, slow the conversation pace in order to gather more information before taking any action.

And if you’re unsure about a call, tell the caller that you’ll call them back momentarily. 然后, instead of redialing the number that called you, use a known phone number to reach the person the caller claimed to be. This way, you can verify whether you were actually speaking with that person.

If you suspect a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission.