You’ve probably heard the stories before… A CEO was scammed out of $233,000 when someone copied the voice of his parent company’s boss. A 75-year-old woman nearly lost $27,500 thinking her grandson was in trouble.
For just $4, anyone can copy a voice with super-cheap, super-powerful AI software. I have the inside scoop on the tricks these scammers use to keep you from falling for them.
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10 popular tactics
In the age of TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn and YouTube, where we broadcast our lives (and voices) to the world, scammers are making a killing.
They extract voice samples, feed them into their AI machines, and produce chillingly accurate voice clones. With that, the stage is set for a scam that is as emotionally brutal as it is ingenious.
Pro tip: Unless you want to make it as an influencer or are a public figure of some sort, set your social media profiles to private. With a public account, you’re revealing too much.
Here’s a rundown of 10 popular scams so you can spot this garbage before you get ripped off:
Summer camp for kids: surprise There was a gas leak and they need to evacuate the camp immediately. The camp counselor wants you to pay for your son’s hotel room and bus fare.
Charity Request: A voice that you have surely heard on television is called youlooking for cash to help disaster victims. What is your credit card number?
Neighbor needs help: She’s crying because your dog was hit by a car and she took him to the vet. You’ll pay the bill now, won’t you?
Auto Parts Emergency: Your trusted mechanic calls you with bad news: don’t drive your car because there’s been a major recall and you need to buy parts. now!
Urgent business expenses:Your boss is calling you from an unknown number. He is at a business conference and urgently needs you to send him money for unexpected expenses. Can you take care of it right away?
Medical emergency:A family member’s voice frantically tells him that he has been in a serious accident and needs money immediately to pay the hospital bill before he can receive treatment.
Trapped in jail: Your son has been arrested and needs bail money immediately. You are ordered to send the money to a specific account before things get worse.
Utility cut:A power company representative, who sounds exactly like someone you’ve spoken to before, says your service will be cut off unless you make a request. immediate pay.
School fundraiser:Your child’s school principal calls you to ask for donations to support a new project. They only need your credit card information to process the donation.
Travel problems: A close friend calls from a vacation spot. He’s lost his wallet and is stranded. Can you send him some money to cover the hotel bill and return flight?
These are just a few examples. There are Thousands More where these came from.
Your action plan
Before you consider selling off the family money or emptying your savings account, let’s talk strategy. You should know this now so you’re prepared. before Something scary happens.
◾ Check caller ID: If the call is coming from a number you don’t recognize, or worse, from a blocked or hidden number, that’s a big red flag. Even if it sounds like it’s your child or mother, hang up and then call them on their cell phone.
◾ Check with video: In high-profile scams like those involving businesses, scammers have also used AI-powered videos, but most low-budget scams don’t go that far.
◾ Gain time: If the voice on the other end says you’re in trouble (for example, because you’ve been in an accident or been arrested), tell them that you’ll help them, but that you’ll want to check on them first. Try to reach them immediately by other means or contact someone who might know where they are.
◾ Money talks: If someone demands a bank transfer or payment in bitcoins, the scam alert should be blaring. Genuine emergencies do not come with specific, suspicious payment demands.
People fall into this trap every day. Please help those around you by sharing this story. It could save someone’s financial future.
Get the lowdown on the latest tech news on the nation’s top weekend radio show, the Kim Komando Show. Kim takes callers and offers advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacking. For her daily tips, free newsletters, and more, visit her website.
