Federal officials sayfraudsters are usingvoice cloning software to pull off sophisticated family emergency and corporate fraud scams.
It’s part of a growing problem of criminals using artificial intelligence (AI).
In fact, the person on the phone is a stranger using voice cloning software.
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“Artificial intelligence is no longer a far-fetched idea out of a sci-fi movie.
We’re living with it, here and now,” writes the FTC on its website.
“A scammer could use AI to clone the voice of your loved one.
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When the scammer calls you, he’ll sound just like your loved one.”
Voice cloning allows users to recreate the unique vocal patterns of an individual.
The danger arises when this technology falls into the wrong hands.
The family emergency isn’t the only scam that uses voice cloning.
The employee, thinking they’re following orders from a superior, unwittingly enables the scam.
The caller said her grandson was in jail and needed the money immediately for bail.
Balasubramaniyan said it’s a red flag if you are subjected to emotional manipulation and high-pressure tactics.
In the future, there may be ways to detect AI scams.
“Companies are creating technology to detect voice cloning,” Balasubramaniyan said.
