Before you panic, it might be an AI voice on the phone and not a relative in danger
Who can you trust in our AI-driven world of deepfakes and automatically-generated messages? “Deepfake” is short for “deep learning and fake,” and some of these projects feel so real that even experts might be fooled.
One scam on our radar takes the word “deceptive” to a new level. Instead of receiving a call from a human phone scammer, criminals are mimicking the voices of your loved ones, demanding financial assistance.
Keep reading to discover how thieves incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) into their scams.
Phone scammers using AI technology
One senior couple in Saskatchewan received an alarming call from what sounded like their grandson, Brandon. As reported by the Washington Post, the voice on the phone was asking desperately for bail money. According to the call, Brandon was in jail and needed help quickly.
The two scrambled to gather the funds from their savings and almost made good on their promise. Thankfully, a manager at their local bank caught wind of the story. He warned them that scammers were making the rounds and tricking innocent people into sending cash.
The calls weren’t just clever, generic impersonations of loved ones like Brandon. While phone-based imposter scams of the past did make use of professional voice actors to convince victims that their friends or family were in trouble, this new wave of fake calls was created using artificial intelligence. How?
If you’re familiar with the deepfake technology used to mimic celebrities, this tale will feel hauntingly familiar. With only seconds of a target’s recorded voice, these criminals can leverage machine learning to craft conversations about anything. The common denominator is the deepfake is always asking for money.
Schemes like this are challenging enough for professional analysts to detect when there’s a visual element involved. Without a video, the task becomes nearly impossible.
The technology has been used in scams like this since as early as 2019. Since then, threat actors have stolen millions of dollars from corporate ventures and ordinary people like you.
Once the scammer has enough information about your social circle, they can choose from a catalog of AI voices and tailor them to the recorded audio they’re referencing. You might be surprised by how close they’re able to get. Often, there is no way to recoup your financial losses after sending the money.
How to tell when an AI-generated call is fake
DuckDuckGo changes its RULES about what you see in search results
Your browser choice can be based on anything from customization options to cosmetic features. The most crucial factor to pay attention to is privacy, however. Some browsers track your web activity and sell it to third parties, while others don’t store any data of you or your searches.
How to spot fake Russian social media accounts and posts
As the Russia-Ukraine War escalates, cable news ratings have skyrocketed. But look at what they’re showing you: Social media posts and online influencers.
There’s no question the Ukraine invasion is a social media war — the world’s first. Many TV interviews are with Ukrainians who are garnering large social media followings. TikTok is filled with video clips of after-bombing scenes and bomb shelters. They are shot on smartphones by citizens and shared directly with the world, bypassing traditional media outlets.
Incoming! 10 Russia-Ukraine war scams hitting your email, phone and social media
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is nearly 6,000 miles from our border, but it’s likely already affecting you here at home.
You probably see a hit to your 401K and financial portfolio. As those go down, gas prices are going up. Tap or click here for simple ways to find the best gas prices in your area.
10 security myths you should stop believing
Cybercrime is one of the fastest-growing criminal enterprises in this era. It makes around $1.5 trillion in profits a year — and that’s a liberal estimate, according to a 2019 study. So, what are some of the most profitable goods, so to speak, that are sold online? It turns out that stolen data is at the top of the list. This data comes from companies, organizations, and even people like you.
The online threat cybersecurity experts fear most - what you need to know
We’re truly living in unprecedented times and battling a fast-moving virus for the past several months is only the beginning. COVID-19 itself is one obstacle, but we also have to deal with cybercriminals who are taking advantage of the trying times we’re living in.