Don’t wait for the government to protect you from AI-driven scams. You may be getting a fake call soon and you need to be vigilant. “Voice cloning,” fueled by AI, is faking voices to swindle you.
“With the rise in artificial intelligence (AI)-fueled scams,” notes the Identity Theft Resource Center, “it can be difficult to know if the person on the other end of the phone is a friend or foe. AI can be used in everyday voice cloning scams that claim to be from friends, family members or co-workers.”
“With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-fueled scams, how do you know if the person on the other end of a phone call is a friend or foe? Voice cloning scams have been around for years. However, the cons continue to evolve as AI improves and becomes more accessible and easier to use.”
“Not only can AI be used to clone celebrities and public figures, but it can also be used in everyday voice cloning scams that claim to be from friends, family members or co-workers. These AI-fueled scams have many variations, ranging from election misinformation to kidnapping for ransom scams.”
“These AI-fueled scams have many variations, ranging from election misinformation to kidnapping for ransom scams, and require as little as three seconds of a voice to create a realistic clone. The technology is so advanced that scammers can add accents, age ranges, background sounds, etc.”
While the Federal Trade Commission has made it illegal for government agencies to use AI to contact you, that’s not stopping cyberthieves prowling for your personal information 24/7.
How can you protect yourself? Here are some key safeguards:
- Hang up and don’t panic. Collect your thoughts and contact the person who supposedly called you to verify the situation if you cannot reach them.
- Be vigilant on all phone calls, even if you recognize the voice. Listen for odd statements, questions, or requests, especially for money or personal or business information.
- Avoid personalized voicemail messages. They can give bad actors easy access to your voice.
- They Want Money or Information. Identity criminals are not interested in attacking individuals unless they have a high net worth or they are an employee with access to business information or systems. Cybercriminals use a variety of tactics to create a sense of panic or urgency – like claiming a loved one is in danger or an important vendor must be paid NOW!
Think you’ve been scammed? Call your local police and report it to the FTC. The agency shares its reports with more than 2,800 law enforcement agencies.
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