In an era where technology is used to replicate human voices with remarkable accuracy, voice cloning scams are accelerating at an alarming pace. Irrefutably, technological advancements are boons that have also driven scammers to evolve their techniques to exploit unsuspecting targets. One of the latest perils is the voice cloning scam. As a result, YPay has made a comeback to help you stay safe from a variety of scams.
McAfee released a report stating that more than half (69%) of Indian citizens think they aren’t aware of or unable to tell the dissimilarity between an AI voice and a real voice. Moreover, about half (47%) of Indian adults have encountered some sort of AI voice scam which is nearly twice the global average (25%) revealed in the report titled ‘The Artificial Imposter’.
Scammers clone the voices of people you know to coerce you to share confidential data/send money/make payments. How do they accomplish this task? With the utilization of AI technology! But no worries because YPay has got your back. We will elucidate how to recognize these scams and the actions you can take to guard your personal information.
How Do Voice Cloning Scams Operate?
The AI voice cloning scams work in the following way:
Voice Collection
Scammers manage to assemble your voice samples from social media videos, public speeches, or intercepted phone calls.
AI Learning
These models train AI algorithms to imitate your voice patterns, intonation, and speech features and convincingly imitate your voice.
Voice Replication
Once instructed, AI can yield realistic audio that sounds the same as you, even forging new phrases, or sentences you have never communicated.
How Do Scammers Use Your Cloned Voice?
Scammers then utilize these AI scam calls to carry out diverse fraudulent activities. Let’s discuss some examples:
Phishing: They might call or leave voicemail messages pretending to be authorized entities such as your bank, a corporation you deal with, or even your friends or family. Their ultimate intention is to deceive you into divulging personal information or sending money.
Social Engineering: Be cautious that people may pose as you to influence others into performing certain actions, such as transferring funds or revealing sensitive details.
Fraudulent Orders: There is the chance that charlatans may use a duplicated version of your voice to place orders or perform transactions over the phone while masquerading as you.
What actions do you need to implement to protect yourself from AI voice scam calls?
Below are 6 useful tips to guard yourself against voice cloning scams:
Spot Red Flags and Stay Alert
Watch out for signs of a voice scam while receiving a call. Detect any abnormal pauses or irregular voice quality, as these signs can demonstrate the use of pre-recorded messages or voice synthesis software.
If you feel something is not aligning with the subject matter of a call, it is better to not entertain such calls.
Authenticate Caller Identity
Always make sure to ascertain the identity of the caller to guard against fraudulent automated voice calls. Even if it seems to be a call from a familiar or recognized number, it makes sense to stay cautious if the request appears distrustful. How do you ensure the call’s legitimacy? Utilize an alternative communication approach, such as a trusted phone number or social media, to verify the caller’s identity.
Guard the Sensitive Details
Never disclose sensitive information such as bank account details, social security numbers, or passwords over the phone, particularly in response to unsought or fishy calls. Provide such details only if you prompted the call and you can substantiate the recipient’s identity.
Furthermore, be careful if requested to complete payments via gift cards, as reputable organizations do not generally utilize this payment method.
Update Yourself About Scams
Stay informed about the latest updates on voice cloning scams and cybersecurity perils. It will make it easier for you to recognize red flags and stay ahead of tricksters.
Keep a tab on reputable sources for updates on standard scam calls and materializing techniques. Listening to podcasts or following cybersecurity specialists on various social media handles can keep you in the loop.
Be Cautious of Urgent Requests
Scammers usually compel you to act fast. They usually create urgency by making people vulnerable. Be careful of pushy approaches and stay miles away from revealing sensitive data or making prompt payments. Credible organizations do not usually mandate urgent actions over the phone.
Spare some time to confirm the caller’s identity by reaching the organization directly with a reliable number.
Unexpected questions/requests
Always be dubious if a caller makes an odd request, particularly asking you to reveal your personal information or offer financial help. These requests generally vary from the expected behavior of the person they assert to be. Always make sure to confirm the legitimacy of these requests before taking any step.
The Bottomline
When it comes to one of the serious threats, one cannot negate the devastating effects of voice cloning scams on targets. Remaining attentive and following the above-mentioned tips can guard you against becoming prey to such scams.
If you ever become a target of these deceptive tactics, report them to the relevant administrators and authorities. Keep in mind, your awareness and proactive steps can do wonders against such fraud.
