How to Tell If You're Getting Scammed Via AI Voice Clone Call in 30 Seconds
Picture this, you get a call from someone who sounds exactly like your brother, sister, or friend. And they're screaming in pain saying they need you to help them. As a caring sibling or friend, you might just assume the worst and do whatever they ask.
But what if the "voice" calling you from the other line isn't from them afterall?
Thanks to modern advancements in ai techology, it's now possible for scam artist to create artificial voice clones using their victim's voice.
The scary thing is that these voices can sound so realistic.
That's why its a good idea to remember the following quick red flags that you may be being scammed over the phone.
What Is an AI Voice Clone Scam
An AI voice clone scam involves someone using AI to mimic anothers voice over the phone.
Given the right audio samples, AI can generate new audio that sounds just like the voice the scam artist wants it to sound like.
Scammers can get these samples from public videos online and on social media.
Using this artificial voice, scam artists can impersonate someone you love and ask you to send them money or personal information.
For example, you can get a call that sounds like it's your son saying,
"Mom, I got in an accident, I need you to send me the money right away, I can't tell you the details."
Anyone hearing this would be scared, especially if they actually had a child that sounded like that on the line.
As you might've noticed, all the scam artist has to do is plant fear inside his victims head and make them think something awful is happening in order to get them to send over the cash the scam artist wants.
How To Tell If You Are Being Scammed On the Phone In 30 Seconds
To tell the difference between a genuine phone call and a scam call on the phone you don't need any fancy tools, just keep in mind the following tips.
First 10 Seconds: Listen For Signs of Panic
Asking for the caller's location or trying to transfer money right away are usually signs that you're being scammed over the phone.
The same goes for anyone claiming they're being held captive or otherwise unable to tell you what the problem is.
If the caller asks you to keep this conversation secret, take this as another red flag.
Having an emergency in real life also involves urgency, so these signs aren't conclusive evidence that you're being scammed over the phone.
However, they should serve as enough of a basis to ask yourself more questions.
Next 10 Seconds: Ask Questions and Stop and Think
Don't jump to the conclusion that a call is fake just because of what the person says.
You can ask them a personal question that they should be able to answer.
Keep in mind that scammers can ask around on social media and might actually answer your question correctly.
All this means is you should be even more careful not to share personal information with the caller.
If the person gets angry with you and asks you to stop questioning them, this is another red flag to consider.
The most important thing you can do is avoid giving out your bank account, passwords, and any other personal information.
These kinds of things are almost always a scam, especially if the person insists in getting them.
Last 10 Seconds: Hang Up and Try Another Number
Time for the most crucial part of this entire process: hang up and try contacting them again on another number you're sure is theirs.
It's best to call them at a number you know is theirs.
It might seem tempting to simply dial the number the scam artist called you at, but keep in mind that they might have manipulated your phone's caller ID.
If they don't answer, try anyone else you know that might be able to reach them and let them know that they aren't being scammed.
If there are actual emergencies happening and the scam artist won't let you go, then call emergency services directly and notify them about this scam attempt.
The goal of this quick 30 second test is to spot red flags and verify suspicious activity, it isn't a definitive test as to whether or not you're being scammed over the phone.
Can You Tell The Difference Between An AI Generated Voice and A Real One?
You might think that an artificial voice would sound very mechanical and robot-like, but that isn't actually the case.
Modern AI voices can sometimes be indistinguishable to real ones as far as pronunciation and tone is concerned.
In some cases, there may be a noticeable difference in the way the suspect audio is pronounced or the emotions it conveys, but it's nothing conclusive enough to spot a scam with.
Instead of focusing on how real or fake the voice sounds, it's best to focus on what it's saying.
Some Common Tactics Used In AI Voice Scams
There are certain patterns scammers use when scamming people over the phone.
Fake Family Emergencies
This tactic involves impersonating a family member and claiming that they're injured or imprisoned and they need the victim to send them money through any means possible.
Fake Boss Calls
This is similar to the previous tactic, but instead of family members, the scammer impersonates your boss and demands that you comply with whatever they say.
Fake Bank and Support Center Calls
Impersonating banks, credit card companies and customer support centers is also a fairly common way scammers get peoples money.
In all these scenarios, the scam artist is using someone's voice to convince them that the scam artist is someone they trust and therefore, deserve their money and personal information.
How To Protect Yourself From AI Voice Scams
You can protect yourself from scams over the phone by learning a few tricks and practicing good phone etiquette.
- Have a family verification phrase that you can use in situations like these. This phrase should be something secret that you can use to confirm that a phone call really is coming from your loved ones.
- Avoid posting audio content online that could be used against you.
- Never provide verification codes for any service or bank account over the phone.
- Avoid sending money to anyone over the phone without confirming the request.
- Never panic and stop and think before doing anything when you get a suspicious call.
- Try warning your grandparents or other loved ones who might not be as educated about scams like these.
With these quick tips you can be well on your way towards protecting yourself and loved ones from scams over the phone.
What Can You Do If You've Already Fallen For An AI Voice Scam?
If you believe that you've already been scammed, you should contact your bank or payment institution directly and ask them to review the scam call.
Some institutions actually allow you to cancel a transaction this way, so try contacting them as soon as possible.
If you provided the scam artist with any passwords or account information, you should change any compromised passwords and enable additional account security if possible.
You should also report this scam to the appropriate government body in your country and save all call logs, messages, and transactions that you were a part of.
Sometimes, acting fast can save you from being further scammed.
Final Thoughts
Scammers are using modern advancements in AI techonlogy to exploit people by making fake phone calls and impersonating people they love.
The biggest mistake scammers make, however, is thinking that just because their voice sounds real, people will believe it without question.
That's why it's so important to always verify anything suspicious over the phone.
Remember to ask yourself questions and try to think like someone who's being scammed.
The first 30 seconds of the call will tell you a lot about whether or not the call is a scam.
You don't need to be able to tell if the voice is real or fake to know if you're getting scammed over the phone, just keep these tips in mind the next time you get a phone call.
