You might find this a little startling.
With just 3 seconds of audio, some artificial intelligence software can mimic the tone, pitch, and cadence of a person’s voice.1
Does that mean you can’t trust the voice on the other end of the telephone?
No, but it should give you pause if the voice asks you something out of the ordinary, such as “I’m stranded and my wallet was stolen” or “I’m in legal trouble and I need money for a lawyer, and you’re the only person I can ask.”
“…that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.” 1 Thessalonians 4:6
The New Face of Fraud2
Fight back against AI-related fraud
- 81% said they had experienced AI-powered fraud…
- 60% fell victim while on email or talking on a chat…
- 39% said the AI produced a deepfake document
- 24% were victims of voice-clone attacks
Do Not Let the Robots Win
As tools get more sophisticated, that just means you must get more sophisticated with your approach to fraud management.
Take passwords, for example. Getting into the habit of changing them on a regular basis is a proactive step that can help keep your private information private.
To help get the upper hand on AI voice fraud, here are a couple of action items to consider with your family.
Set up a family word: Every family has a word or phrase that’s connected to a memorable family event or situation. Turn that word or phrase into your “family-safe word.” If the caller doesn’t know what you’re talking about, it might be time to hang up.
What’s our dog’s nickname? Or what was the name of your favorite restaurant during your last vacation? Something only your family would know.
I’ll call you back: Take control of the conversation by simply saying, “I’ll call you back.” If the person says, “You can’t,” your Spidey Sense should kick in.
AI is here to stay, and fraud tools are going to get more and more sophisticated. But, by keeping current and adopting a few changes, you might be able to turn the tables on some would-be scammers!
- MitnickSecurity.com, February 6, 2025
- KPMG.com, 2026
