You’ve heard the stories before… A CEO was scammed out of $233,000 after 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 using ultra-cheap and ultra-powerful AI software. I have inside information on the tricks these scammers use so you don’t fall for it.
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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 having a field day.
They extract voice samples, feed them into their AI machines, and produce voice clones of frightening accuracy. With this, the stage is set for a scam that is as emotionally brutal as it is ingenious.
Pro tip: Unless you’re looking to become an influencer or are a public figure, set your social media profiles to private. You’re giving away too much with a public account.
Here’s a look at 10 common scams so you can spot these scams before you get scammed:
Children’s summer camp disrupted: There has been a gas leak and we need to evacuate immediately. The camp manager wants you to pay for a hotel room and a bus ride for your child.
Charity Request: A voice you have certainly heard on television called Youlooking for money to help disaster victims. What is your credit card number?
The neighbor needs help: She’s crying because your dog got hit by a car and she took him to the vet. You’re going to pay the bill now, right?
Emergency auto parts: Your trusty mechanic calls you with bad news: don’t drive your car because there’s been a major recall and you need to buy the parts. NOW!
Urgent business expenses:Your boss is calling you from an unknown number. He is in a business conference and needs you to make an emergency transfer to cover some unforeseen expenses. Can you take care of it immediately?
Medical emergency:The voice of a loved one frantically tells you that he has had a serious accident and needs money immediately to pay the hospital bill before he can be treated.
Stuck in jail: Your child has been arrested and needs immediate bail. You are asked to send the money to a specific account before the situation gets worse.
Service outage:A representative from the electric company, who sounds exactly like someone you’ve spoken to before, says your service will be cut off unless you make a request. immediate payment.
Fundraising for the school:Your child’s school principal calls to ask you to make a donation to support a new project. He just needs your credit card information to process the donation.
Travel problem: A close friend calls you from a vacation spot. He has lost his wallet and is stranded. Can you send him money to pay for his hotel bill and flight home?
These are just a few examples. There are thousands more information about their origin.
Your action plan
Before you consider selling the family silver or emptying your savings account, let’s talk strategy. You need to know this now to be prepared. Before something scary happens.
◾ Check Caller ID: If the call is from a number you don’t recognize or, worse, a blocked or withheld number, that’s a red flag. Even if it sounds like your child or mother on the other end of the line, hang up and call them on their cell phone.
◾ Check with the video: In larger scams, such as those involving businesses, scammers have also used AI-assisted video. But most low-budget scams won’t go that far.
◾ Win time: If the person on the other end of the line tells you that they are in a difficult situation (accident, arrest, etc.), tell them that you will help them, but that you want to check on the situation first. Immediately try to reach the person by other means or contact someone who may know where they are.
◾ Money talks: If someone demands a wire transfer or Bitcoin payment, your scam alert should be ringing. Real emergencies don’t come with specific, questionable payment demands.
People fall into this trap every day. Please care for the people around you by sharing this story. It could save someone’s financial future.
Find out the latest tech news on The Kim Komando Show, America’s biggest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and gives advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website.