Imagine receiving a call from your child or parent, panicked, claiming they've been arrested or kidnapped. The voice sounds exactly like them. This is the reality of AI voice cloning scams.
The Technology
Scammers only need a 3-second audio clip (often taken from social media videos) to clone a person's voice using AI tools. They then use this clone to beg for money.
How to Verify
1. Hang Up and Call Back: Call the person's phone directly.
2. Establish a 'Safe Word': Agree on a secret code word with your family that you will use in real emergencies.
3. Ask Private Questions: Ask something only the real person would know, which an AI or scammer wouldn't.