You may feel confident to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud. You know what to look for and no one will fool you.
Then I get a call from my son. This is unusual because I rarely call. You’ll notice right away if you hear screams or sounds like a scuffle. Suddenly you hear a voice calling for help, which you are sure is your son. When the alleged kidnapper calls and demands money to protect his son, you hear his voice and are convinced that everything is real.
Unfortunately, scammers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to imitate human voices, and these fake voices can be turned into kidnapping scams and more. Scams like this may seem rare, but they do happen.
This is an illustration of a scammer. (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
How common are AI-enhanced fake kidnapping calls?
Fake emergency scams like this are occurring frequently. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) We have provided warnings and examples for consumers. However, specific numbers on the frequency of these calls are not readily available, especially for calls that are known to utilize AI.
Such fraud is certainly possible even with current AI technology. Fake videos and audio of politicians and celebrities are appearing regularly. With the help of AI, these clips are scarily believable.
You may remember an incident that happened at the end of 2023. fake dental plan ads It featured Tom Hanks. AI technology created the image. Hanks had to post on social media condemning the false advertising.
Empty warehouse with chairs. (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
Read more: ‘Unsubscribe’ email scam targets Americans
How do AI fake calls work?
AI technology creates a fake by analyzing a sampling of audio clips of the person you want to imitate. The ability to interpret incredible amounts of data can be used to record multiple features of a person’s voice and create highly realistic fakes.
Once AI can create fake voices, programmers can tell it what to say to sell you a dental treatment plan or convince you that your loved one is being kidnapped. Create a personalized message.
Some AI programmers, who use fake voices for helpful purposes such as helping people with medical problems such as ALS regain “speech,” claim they can imitate voices with just a few minutes of audio clips. ing. However, the more voices available, the more realistic the imitated voice should sound. For example, 20 minutes of audio is much better than 3 minutes.
As AI capabilities continue to expand at breakneck speed, we can expect faster turnaround times in the future.
What is artificial intelligence (AI)?
Artificial intelligence illustration. (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
More information: How to protect yourself from brushing scams
Do I need to worry about falling for a fake AI voice abduction scheme?
Realistically, most people don’t have to worry about fake kidnapping plots coming from AI-generated voices. However, if your loved one posts a large amount of videos and audio on social media, scammers may be able to find enough source audio to create a fake fake.
Although AI has made this type of fraud easier to perform, the setup process remains too time-consuming for most fraudsters. After all, this type of scammer is taking advantage of your rapidly growing fear of receiving this type of call to trick you into overlooking the obvious clues that it’s a fake. is.
The scammer just has a random child screaming and sobbing uncontrollably, and you can quickly jump to the conclusion that it’s your child. This is much easier than using AI to source and generate audio, at least for now.
A woman surrounded by data. (Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutson)
Read more: How scammers use AI tools to file perfect tax returns in your name
Steps you can take to protect yourself from fake kidnapping scams
Scammers will try to catch you off guard and gain an advantage with surprise kidnapping fake calls, but there are some steps you can take to prepare and protect yourself before and after receiving this type of call. .
1. Ask your loved ones to keep you informed of your trip. Fake kidnappers may try to convince you that the kidnapping is happening outside your city. However, if you know that your loved one is out of town, you can be sure that the call is probably fake.
2. Set a safe word or phrase. Set a safe word to use if your loved one calls you in a dangerous situation or under threat. Scammers don’t know this safe word. If you don’t hear the safe word, you know it’s probably a fake call.
CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
3. Use privacy settings on social media. Ask your family to limit who can see your social media posts. This makes it difficult for scammers to obtain source audio that can be used for fake kidnapping voice calls. Click here to learn more about maintaining and protecting your privacy online.
4. Try texting your loved one: Send a text message to your loved one during or immediately after a call without telling the caller. Ask your loved one to text you right away so you can talk without tipping off the scammer. If you receive a text message back, you can be sure the call is fake. Consider creating a code word that the whole family can use. Texting this code word tells anyone that the situation is serious and requires immediate attention.
5. Stay calm and think things through. Finally, it’s very difficult to stay calm when receiving this type of call, but it’s important to keep thinking clearly. Don’t panic. Whether it’s a real call or a scam call, panicking won’t solve anything. Look for clues that reveal the call is a scam. Gather information that will help you make a clear decision about the legitimacy of the call.
Cart important points
As AI becomes more readily available and sophisticated, fraudsters will be primed to take advantage of it. Perhaps by then, AI will have figured out how to protect ourselves and level the playing field. Until then, taking steps to protect your family, such as setting up a safe word, can provide some peace of mind.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Are you concerned about the potential for fraudsters to use AI to create new scams? Email us at. Cyberguy.com/Contact
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report newsletter using the link below. Cyberguy.com/Newsletter
Ask your cart a question or let us know your story you’d like us to feature.
Answers to frequently asked questions at CyberGuy:
Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
