How to spot a cloned-voice scam
A phone call, a familiar voice, an urgent plea for money. Today a voice can be cloned from a few seconds of audio. Here's how not to get caught.
A few years ago scammers posing as a grandson or a police officer relied on a convincing story. Today they can copy the voice too. All they need is a short recording – a social media video or a voice message – and AI produces a voice that sounds like someone you love.
What the call sounds like
Your “son”, “grandma” or “boss” calls. They're in trouble: an accident, hospital, a blocked account, a secret deal. They need money now, sent to a new account. And above all you mustn't tell anyone.
Five warning signs
- Urgency. The harder someone pushes you to decide right away, the likelier it's a scam.
- A new account or an unusual payment. Crypto, gift cards, a transfer to an account you've never seen.
- Secrecy. “Don't tell mum.” Real family doesn't ask you to hide things from the family.
- An unknown or hidden number. “My phone broke, I'm calling from a friend's.”
- The voice sounds slightly off. Unnatural pauses, flat intonation, answers that miss the question.
What to do
- Hang up and call back on the number you know. Never the one that called you.
- Agree on a family password. One word only the family knows. Whoever doesn't know it isn't them.
- Ask a question only they can answer. Not a birthday – that can be found online.
- Don't send anything under pressure. A real emergency can wait ten minutes for a check.
That's exactly what I show live in my AI workshops – including how fast a voice can be cloned. Once people hear it, they don't get caught off guard.