A simple question to ask on a phone call detects AI ‘voice clones’ posing as people you know to empty your bank

ASKING the right questions can help protect you from sinister AI voice cloning scams.

It’s a nefarious scam that uses AI to replicate the voices of your friends, family or colleagues.

AI can now clone a voice after listening to it for just a few seconds.

And cybersecurity experts have warned that criminals are using it to trick unsuspecting victims into handing over money – making “urgent” requests while posing as people you know.

If a loved one sounds panicked on the phone, it can be tempting to help them anyway.

But speaking to The US Sun, cybersecurity expert Curtis Wilson revealed that it’s important to ask the right question first.

“Being aware of the possibility is half the battle. Pay attention to what they are saying and try to ask for details,” said Curtis of Synopsys Software Integrity Group.

“If your child says they are with a friend, ask which friend. If a colleague talks about ‘the big project’, ask them to confirm the client, etc.

“Usually, these scammers call from unknown numbers and claim they have lost their phone.

“So please try calling the correct number or contacting them in another way to confirm.”

STAY CALM

Whenever someone calls you with an urgent request, it can be worrying.

This is especially true if a loved one claims to be in crisis – or if your boss is calling you with a serious demand.

But the important thing is not to make any hasty decisions.

Take the time to check any requests for money, even if they appear to come from someone you know and trust.

“The first and most important thing to do is not to panic,” cybersecurity expert Simon Newman told The US Sun.

Phone scam statistics

Americans are bombarded with three billion spam calls per month. What are the numbers regarding the number of victims and the amount of money lost to fraudsters

• In 2022, Americans lost an estimated $39.5 billion to phone fraud, with 68.4 million US citizens affected, according to TechReport.
• The average phone scam victim lost $567.41 each in 2021, a huge increase from the figure of $182 per victim in 2021, according to Hiya.
• Most scams happen over the phone, with fraudsters twice as likely to call compared to text in 2021, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports.
• In 2021, the US saw a 56% increase in spam phone calls, with 60% of those robocalls.
• US residents receive an average of 18 spam phone calls per month, although some experts believe the real number could be as high as 31 per month.
• Many phone calls from reputable companies can be mistakenly marked as spam, but 38% of companies have no idea whether they are being marked as “potential fraud” or not, according to Hiya.
• Never provide personal or financial information if you suspect a phone call is a scam. For example, your bank will never ask for these full details over the phone.
• To reduce spam calls and scams, sign up for the Do Not Call Registry. Telemarketers, by law, will need to check this list before calling you.
• Downloading third-party apps like Hiya, Nomorobo or Truecaller can help filter annoying spam calls.
• Try not to share your phone number unless necessary, especially online or with sketchy sources.

“Cybercriminals are very good at getting victims to act quickly and often resort to situations where there is an imminent risk of harm,” continued Simon, head of the London Cyber ​​Resilience Center and member of the International Cyber ​​Advisory Board. Expo.

“Like the person being kidnapped or urgently needing money to get them out of trouble.

“Try to verify the identity of the person calling you by asking lots of very specific questions that only the real person would know.

“You can also try to contact the person at the number they normally use.”

Taking a cautious approach is still the best strategy.

Simon NewmanCEO of the London Cyber ​​Resilience Center

There is also a way to prepare to protect yourself from this type of scam in advance.

It’s worth sitting down with your closest friends, family and important colleagues to agree on a “safe word”.

“Another thing you can do with close friends and family is choose a ‘safe word,’” Simon told us.

“If the other person end of the line does not respond with the correct answer, it is likely that you are talking to a fake AI.

“The cybersecurity industry is working hard to make it easier to identify and block deepfakes, but taking a cautious approach is still the best strategy.”

Also, be careful if the caller is asking for money through a strange method like cryptocurrency or gift cards – this is a big sign that you are being scammed.