Key Takeaways:
- Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used by scammers to clone voices and trick victims into sending money
- AI-powered "voice spoofing" scams are becoming increasingly common and can be highly convincing
- Scammers can use social media posts, voicemails, and videos to gather audio and clone a person’s voice
- To protect yourself, create a family code word, ask personal questions, and verify the caller’s identity
- Never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency based on a phone call or text, and report any suspicious activity to the authorities
Introduction to AI-Powered Scams
Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we live and work, but it is also being used by criminals to commit new and sophisticated scams. As District Attorney Summer Stephan notes, "Artificial intelligence is transforming the way we live and work, but criminals are using it too." One of the fastest-growing and most frightening new scam trends is AI-powered "voice spoofing." With just a few seconds of audio pulled from a social media post, voicemail, or video, scammers can clone someone’s voice and use it to trick family members into sending money. According to the article, "Imagine hearing your child’s voice on the phone saying, ‘Mom, I’ve been arrested,’ or ‘I was in a car crash and need money right now.’ The voice sounds real — because it is — just digitally copied."
The Rise of Voice Spoofing Scams
These scams often include stories like a grandchild arrested and needing bail, a child in a car accident who needs money for a tow truck or hospital bill, or a fake law enforcement call claiming there is a warrant for your arrest. To make the scam even more convincing, criminals can spoof phone numbers, making it look like the call is coming from the actual person or a government agency. As the article states, "Across San Diego County and throughout California, law enforcement is already seeing victims targeted by criminals who sound exactly like their child, grandchild, spouse, or close friend or a government official." The call is emotional, urgent, and terrifying, making it difficult for victims to think clearly and make rational decisions.
Protecting Yourself and Your Family
Anyone can be targeted by these scams, and AI has made them more convincing, more personal, and harder to detect. However, there are steps you can take to protect yourself and your family. According to the article, "Tips to avoid AI voice and other high-tech scams include: Create a family code word that must be used in any real emergency." If a caller claims to be a loved one in trouble, ask for the code word. No code word? Hang up. Additionally, ask personal questions only the real person would know, call the loved one back using a known number to confirm they are safe, and slow down. Scammers rely on panic and urgency to push you into acting before you think.
Prevention and Reporting
To further protect yourself, never send money, gift cards, or cryptocurrency based on a phone call or text. Limit what you post on social media, as criminals use online videos, voicemails, and photos to build convincing fake stories. Review your privacy settings so strangers cannot access your content, and search your name online to see what information about you is publicly available and remove what you can. If you’ve been scammed, stop sending money immediately, report the crime to local law enforcement, and file a report with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. As the article notes, "Scammers are counting on fear, confusion, and new technology to separate you from your money. Knowledge, caution, and verification are your best defense."
The Role of Law Enforcement
The District Attorney’s Consumer Protection Unit, along with the CATCH (Computer and Technology Crime High Tech Response Team), works to solve these crimes and protect the public. However, prevention is the key. The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping communities informed and protected as criminals evolve their tactics. By staying alert and spreading awareness, we can stop these scams and keep families safe. As District Attorney Summer Stephan notes, "The San Diego County District Attorney’s Office is committed to keeping our communities informed and protected as criminals evolve their tactics." To submit a report about fraud, false advertising, or unfair business practices, visit the consumer protection page at www.sandiegoda.com.