Protect Your Family from AI Voice Scams with This One Simple Passcode Tip

5 Min. Read

Scams are becoming smarter and scarier than ever before. One of the fastest-growing threats are AI-powered scams– specifically AI voice cloning scams. This type of scam uses AI to copy someone’s voice and trick family members into giving up personal information or money. Combine that with phishing, vishing, and robocalls, and it’s clear that family safety has reached a new level.

In this article we’ll go over what an AI voice scam is, what AI scams entail and the common questions around these scams, and how you can keep your family safe from future AI scams.

What is an AI Voice Scam?

An AI voice scam is when scammers use artificial intelligence to mimic someone’s voice– like your child, spouse, parent, or friend– and try to trick you into thinking it’s really them. Often, they’ll call claiming there’s an emergency and ask for a text passcode, money, or sensitive information.

These scams are getting harder to detect because the AI-generated voices, shockingly, sound believable. One woman in Chippewa County explained, “It sounded just like my daughter” and she isn’t the only person to fall victim to these high-tech scams. That is why it is important to safeguard your family and consider having a family passcode.

You can learn more about Deep-Fake Audio and Video scams on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) website.

Why Family Passcodes Matter

One of the best ways to protect against voice scams is by setting up a family passcode, a secret word or phrase only your family (or friends) knows. Before you act on any emergency call or text (ones that are shady– obviously not real emergencies from law enforcement), ask for the passcode. If the person doesn’t know it, it’s likely a scam.

Tips for Choosing a Secure Family Passcode:

• Avoid common answers– no birthdays, pet names, or favorite colors.
• Make sure kids, grandparents, and even babysitters know the passcode system!
• Make it something your whole family or friends can remember easily.
• Don’t share it online or through text, only tell people you trust in person.
• Examples:
  • A memory-based code: First Camping Trip 07
  • A random word combo: Tiger Circle Rocks
  • A phrase from a favorite movie: Waffle House Midnight
  • A safe question to confirm identity: “What did Grandma always bake on Thanksgiving?”

Now that you know what an AI voice scam is and why it is important to have a family passcode, what other things can you do to keep safe? Are there any legal options when it comes to AI voice scams? What happens if you fall victim to an AI voice scam? We’ll answer some commonly asked questions next.

Commonly Asked Questions About AI Voice Scams

 1. Can AI Copy My Voice?

Yes. All it takes is a short voice recording (sometimes just a few seconds) from a social media video, voicemail, or even a podcast. AI tools can then clone your voice and make it say things you never actually said.

This is cause for concern for how much of your voice is available online, especially on public platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or Facebook.

2. Is Using AI Voice Illegal?

Surely using someone’s voice to portray them is illegal, right? Unfortunately, using AI to clone a voice isn’t illegal by itself. But using it to trick someone to commit fraud or impersonate someone for malicious reasons is absolutely a cybercrime. In fact, this type of scam falls under voice phishing or vishing– a form of phishing that happens over the phone.

3. How to Tell If It’s an AI Caller

Detecting an AI voice isn’t always easy (more of a reason to have a family passcode!), but here are signs to watch for:

• Strange pauses or delays in the conversation
• They can’t answer personal questions that only the real person would know
• Overly clear pronunciation (too perfect)
• They refuse to video call (to confirm it is that person)
• A lack of background noise
• Using words that the person wouldn’t ordinarily use
• Always ask for your family passcode (remember not to give out the passcode if someone calls you– you should be asking the person who called you)
• They avoid questions or give generic answers
• Their urgent requests are based around money or account info
• The tone sounds off– something just isn’t right

If anything feels off, don’t share information and hang up immediately. Reach out to that person in real life to make sure it isn’t them or contact a trusted family member to help. You can also learn more about Spotting Fraudsters, Scammers, and Identity Thieves Online. 

4. What Can a Scammer Do with a Voice Recording?

With your voice, scammers can:

• Clone it using AI
• Trick your family or employer into giving up personal data
• Bypass voice authentication systems
• Use your voice in fake emergency calls or social attacks
• Frame you in a conversation you never actually had

5. Does AI Record Your Conversations?

No, AI itself doesn’t record conversations. What might be able to record your conversations are your phone, apps, or smart home devices. Some apps collect audio data, which could be used (legally or not) to feed AI systems– that is why checking your privacy settings and using trusted apps is essential.

6. Is Voice Phishing a Cyber Crime?

Absolutely! Vishing (voice phishing) is a serious form of cybercrime. Since scammers are using this for fraud and malicious acts, this is not a crime to be taken lightly. Victims of vishing can lose money, data, and peace of mind.

7. What Do I Do If I’m a Victim of an AI Voice Scam?

If you’ve fallen for a voice scam– don’t panic. Act quickly:

1. Stop all communication with the scammer immediately.
2. Contact your bank or credit card company to freeze accounts or reverse charges.
3. Change passwords and PINs, especially for online banking or voice-activated systems.
4. Notify your phone carrier– they may help secure your number or track suspicious activity.
5. Report the incident to:
   1. Contact the FTC– IdentityTheft.gov is the federal government’s one-stop resource for identity theft Victims.
   2. FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
   3. Your local authorities or bank/credit union– You may want to file a police report if you know the person who committed the crime.
   4. Your state’s consumer protection office.
6. Let family and friends know what happened so they can be alert to similar attempts.

Even if no money was stolen, reporting the scams helps prevent others from becoming victims. And remember: there’s no shame in falling victim to scams. Scams are becoming extremely sophisticated and more targeted to trick smart people. You are not alone in this situation. Stay safe, be vigilant, and create a family passcode to safeguard yourself.

Contact Marine Credit Union About Suspicious Activity

Voice scams are evolving, but so are we. By learning about phishing, vishing, impersonation, robocalls, and AI voice cloning, you can build strong defenses to protect your loved ones.

Just remember: scammers prey on panic. A calm question like, “What’s our family passcode?” could be the one thing that stops them in their tracks.

Additionally, report any suspicious activity, identity theft, or fraud issues to your local Marine Credit Union branch office. Contact us today.