Title: Beware of AI Voice-Cloning Scams – Stay Protected with These Tips
Ask the Right Questions to Avoid Falling Victim
ASKING the right questions can help protect you from sinister artificial intelligence voice-cloning scams. It’s a nefarious con that uses AI to replicate the voices of your friends, family members, or colleagues.
AI can now clone a voice after hearing it for just a few seconds. And cybersecurity experts have warned that criminals are using this to trick unsuspecting victims into handing over cash – by making “urgent” requests while posing as people you know. If a loved one seems panicked on the phone, it can be tempting to help them no matter what. But speaking to The U.S Sun, cybersecurity expert Curtis Wilson revealed it’s important to ask the right question first.
Stay Calm and Verify Before Responding
STAY CALM – Any time someone calls you with an urgent request, it can be worrying. This is especially true if a loved one is claiming to be in a crisis – or your boss is ringing you with a serious demand. But the important thing is to not rush into any decision. Take the time to verify any requests for money, even if they seem to be coming from someone who you know and trust.
Phone Scam Statistics That You Need to Know
Phone scam statistics – Americans are bombarded with three billion spam phone calls a month. What are the figures regarding the number of victims and the amount of money lost to fraudsters:
Verify the Identity and Adapt a Cautious Approach
“Being aware of the possibility is half the battle. Pay attention to what they are saying and try asking for details,” said Curtis of the Synopsys Software Integrity Group. “If your child says they are with a friend, ask which friend. If a colleague talks about ‘the big project,’ get them to confirm the client, etc. Usually, these scammers will be calling from unknown numbers and claiming they lost their phone.”
“Cyber criminals are very good at getting victims to act quickly and often use situations where there is an imminent risk of harm,” continued Simon, chief of the Cyber Resilience Centre for London and International Cyber Expo Advisory Council Member. “Such as the person being kidnapped or urgently needing money to get them out of trouble. Try and verify the identity of the person calling you by asking lots of very specific questions that only the real person would know. You may also want to try and contact the person on the number that they normally use.”
Set Up Precautions and Watch Out for Red Flags
There’s also a way of setting yourself up to be protected from this type of scam ahead of time. It’s worth sitting down with your closest friends, family members, and important colleagues to arrange a “safe word.” “Another thing you can do with close friends and family is to choose a ‘safe word,'” Simon told us.
“Adopting a cautious approach is still the best strategy.” Simon Newman, CEO at the Cyber Resilience Centre for London. Also, be cautious if the caller is asking for money via a strange method like cryptocurrency or gift cards – this is a major red flag that you’re being scammed.