Grandparents are increasingly becoming targets of a new twist on an age-old scam, as scammers now use artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic the voices of loved ones in order to extort money. This disturbing development has left many victims shaken and afraid.
One example involves Jessica Di Palma’s 73-year-old mother, who recently received a phone call that she will never forget. The caller claimed to be an officer from the RCMP and informed her that her grandson, Milan, had been arrested on drug charges. They demanded $10,000 in bail money. The supposed officer even passed the phone to a person claiming to be Milan, who pleaded with his grandmother to help him out of this alleged trouble. Disturbingly, the voice sounded just like Milan’s. However, it was later revealed that the call was a scam and the scammers had somehow managed to duplicate Milan’s voice using AI technology.
In a state of panic, Di Palma’s mother withdrew $10,000 to save her grandson. Fortunately, Jessica noticed the withdrawal and immediately contacted her mother, prompting her to reveal the situation. Both Jessica and Milan confirmed that it wasn’t Milan on the phone, but the accuracy of the voice left Di Palma’s mother feeling paranoid and worried.
This is not an isolated incident. Bruno Aiezza experienced a strikingly similar scam, where his mother received a call from someone claiming to be her grandson in need of bail money. The AI-generated voice even imitated the son’s mannerisms and switched between English and Italian, just as he would. Luckily, Aiezza’s mother realized that her physical limitations would prevent her from going to the bank, exposing the scam.
Voice cloning, made possible by AI technology, is the tool scammers are using to perpetrate these fraudulent acts. Through voice cloning, scammers can collect samples of a victim’s voice from the internet and use them to train AI models to replicate their tone, accents, and speech patterns. This allows scammers to create highly convincing audio that sounds exactly like the targeted individual, making their fraudulent requests seem legitimate.
Unfortunately, this technology continues to advance, becoming increasingly sophisticated with each passing day. It can replicate not only the voice but also the mannerisms and nuances of the targeted individual. This level of realism makes it incredibly difficult for victims to discern the scam from reality, leading them to believe the deceptive requests.
Experts urge families to educate themselves about the signs of grandparent scams, such as requests for urgent money, out-of-character behavior, or threats. They also recommend the use of secret code words to verify the authenticity of a person before providing any sensitive information or financial assistance. If there is any doubt, hanging up and contacting the person directly using their known phone number is advised.
If someone falls victim to a voice duplication scam or any other fraud, experts recommend taking immediate action. Reporting the incident to the police and checking financial records is crucial. Changing passwords and notifying banks about the situation can help prevent unauthorized access to accounts. It is also advisable to have reliable antivirus software installed on devices to prevent any further malicious activity.
As these scams continue to evolve and become more sophisticated, individuals must take cyber threats seriously. Remaining vigilant, trusting one’s intuition, and verifying information before taking any action are crucial steps to avoid falling victim to these deceptive practices. By staying informed and proactive, we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the harms of AI-assisted voice scams.
