AI Voice Cloning Might Be the Next Big Scam
What it is and how to protect yourself and your loved ones
It’s 3 am and your phone is ringing off the hook.
You pick up in a sleepy panic. Calls this early are never good news. “Hello?” you say. It’s your mom or your aunt or cousin and she needs your help immediately.
The voice on the other end sounds just like them, but something feels off.
In a sleep-induced haze, you respond to their pleas for urgent help. After all, there’s no time to think too hard. You rattle off personal information or send money. Too late, you realize that you may have fallen victim to an AI voice cloning scam.
And it might be the next big thing.
What Is AI Voice Cloning?
AI voice cloning is a process that involves training an AI model on a large dataset of someone’s voice recordings.
The model then learns to mimic the speaker’s voice, tone, and intonation, and can generate new speech that sounds just like the person. Voice cloning can be used to create a synthetic voice that can be used in various applications, such as virtual assistants, audiobooks, and movies.
How Is AI Voice Cloning Being Used as a Scam?
Scammers are using AI voice cloning to impersonate people, such as family members or business associates, to trick their victims into giving away sensitive information or money.
The scam works by using a synthetic voice that sounds like the person they are pretending to be, which makes it difficult for the victim to identify the deception.
In some cases, scammers will use AI voice cloning to create a fake voicemail or message, claiming to be a bank or credit card company.
They will then ask the victim to call back and provide their personal information to “verify” their account.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) describes it this way (paragraphed):
Scammers have started using artificial intelligence (AI) to clone the voice of family members to enhance family emergency schemes. By using voice-cloning programs and short audio clips of a family member’s voice, a scammer can trick a person into sending money or personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recommends not trusting the voice and calling the person who supposedly contacted you to verify the story. If you can’t reach the person, try to get in touch with them through another family member or their friends. Scammers often ask victims to pay or send money in ways that make it hard to get the money back, such as wiring money or buying gift cards. In case of a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
FTC Consumer Education Specialist Alvaro Puig encourages you to not let your guard down just because the voice on the phone sounds familiar. Scammers are using AI to sound more convincing than ever.
How Can You Protect Yourself?
The best way to protect yourself from AI voice cloning scams is to be vigilant and take steps to verify the identity of the person on the other end of the line.
Here are some tips to protect yourself from AI voice cloning scams:
- Come up with a code word
- Don’t give them information right away
- Ask smart questions
- Be skeptical
- Use two-factor authentication
- Check your accounts
- Consider voice biometrics
Come Up With a Code Word
Agree on a secret code word or phrase with your loved ones or business associates that you can use to verify their identity. If they call and ask for help, ask them for the code word before providing any information.
I have one of these with my kids for anyone who comes to the door or tries to get my kids to go somewhere with them.
My kids know to ask, “What’s the password?”
And if the other person doesn’t know it, my kids know I didn’t send them. Not foolproof but still effective.
Don’t Give Out Information Right Away
If someone calls you and asks for personal information, don’t give it out right away. Ask for their name and the reason for the call.
If they claim to be from a company, ask for their phone number and extension so you can call them back. Same with your friends and family. Hang up and call them right back from your phone.
Ask Smart Questions
Ask questions that only the real person would know, such as personal anecdotes or information about your last conversation. If the person on the other end of the line can’t answer these questions, it may be a sign that they are not who they claim to be.
Ask about private information someone couldn’t pick up from social media.
Be Skeptical of Unexpected Calls
If you receive a call from an unfamiliar number or person, be skeptical.
Scammers often use robocalls or spoofed phone numbers to make their scams seem more legitimate. If you’re not sure who is calling, let it go to voicemail and call back using the contact information you have on file.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Adding a second form of authentication in addition to your password, also known as two-factor authentication, gives you more security for your online accounts.
This extra step helps safeguard against cyber-attacks and unauthorized access by scammers who may have obtained your personal information.
Check Your Accounts Regularly
Regularly checking your bank and credit card accounts can help you spot fraudulent activity before it spirals out of control. If you see any unauthorized transactions, report them to your bank or credit card company immediately.
Stay Informed
Stay informed about the latest scams and tactics used by scammers.
Check online resources such as the Federal Trade Commission or your state’s Attorney General’s office for updates on scams and how to protect yourself.
Consider Using Voice Biometrics
Voice biometrics is a technology that uses voice patterns to identify individuals.
Some financial institutions and other organizations are starting to use voice biometrics to verify the identity of customers. If you deal with highly sensitive information, it may be wise to use voice biometrics technology if it’s available to you.
This can add an additional layer of security to your accounts, providing more protection against potential scams and identity theft.
The Future of AI Voice Cloning
As with any emerging technology, AI voice cloning is constantly evolving, and it’s difficult to predict how it will be used in the future.
Some experts predict that voice cloning will become more sophisticated and be used in a variety of industries, such as healthcare and entertainment.
However, as the technology becomes more advanced, the risk of it being used for malicious purposes also increases. It’s important to stay informed and educated about the risks associated with AI voice cloning and to take steps to protect yourself.
Final Thoughts
It’s going to be increasingly easy to create video, images, and audio where anyone (private and public citizens) do and say anything you want.
That’s exciting but also terrifying.
Thanks for reading!
