Scam of the Week: Fake It ‘Til They Take It
Imagine answering your phone and hearing a family member's voice. They tell you they’ve been arrested, and they need you to send money immediately for them to be released from jail. You feel completely shocked, and you might immediately feel like you need to send them as much as they need.
But the voice that you’re hearing is actually completely fake! Cybercriminals find videos of your friends or family on social media, and then use AI to make a replica of their voice. The scammers then use the cloned voice to call you. They hope that if you hear a familiar voice, you will not stop to verify what's actually happening. They usually ask you to send money using methods that are difficult to track, such as wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Anything you send them is nearly impossible to recover!
Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to AI voice cloning scams:
Set up a secret code word with close family members. Choose something that can't be found online and use it to verify each other's identity in emergencies.
If someone you know calls you and claims to need money immediately, hang up and call them back directly using a known phone number to verify their story.
Be mindful of receiving unusual instructions, such as being asked to send a large amount of money in an unusual way. If someone is in jail, it’s highly unlikely that they would ask for money to be sent using cryptocurrency!
The ORAM Corporate Advisors Security Team