April 17, 2024, 11:45 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Scammers are trying to deceive their victims through various channels. For some time now, they have also been using phone scams with AI. TECHBOOK explains how you can quickly and easily expose them.
Scammers seem to be everywhere, often trying their dubious luck over the phone. With so-called shock calls, criminals aim to catch potential victims off guard and, for example, persuade them to pay money. Unfortunately, modern technologies are also available to these shady characters, leading to an increase in phone scams with AI. The scheme is particularly insidious.
Relatives are Imitated in Phone Scams with AI
Scammers often resort to the well-known grandchild scam. They pose as grandchildren or other relatives of mostly older targets. During the call, they fake an acute emergency that requires immediate action—and usually the quick payment of a significant sum of money.
These attempts are not easy for victims to see through, and the problem is now worsening. As early as 2023, TECHBOOK reported on phone scams with AI—at that time, the tactic was spreading mainly in the U.S. Now, however, it is becoming increasingly common in Germany, as reported by WDR, a German public broadcaster. With the help of artificial intelligence, perpetrators can convincingly imitate voices by training software accordingly. When the call is made, victims believe they are actually speaking with their loved ones.
A case reported by the Berliner Zeitung also shows a way the deception is further obscured: In one instance, a fake daughter called a senior. After briefly describing her supposed problem, she handed the phone to an alleged police officer—the AI had already done its job again.
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How Scammers Can Obtain Foreign Voice Samples
The central question in a phone scam with AI is: How did the perpetrators even get the voices to train the software? According to AI expert and software engineer Michael Zerna, as quoted by WDR, this is especially easy for people who share a lot on social media. Those who publicly share videos provide an easily accessible source for criminals.
Hacks of messaging apps like WhatsApp are also possible. If there are voice messages in the chat, these can also be used for artificial intelligence. Direct fake calls to relatives can also serve this purpose. Additionally, hackers can purchase sensitive information from data leaks on the dark web and use software support to establish familial connections between individuals.
Tips Against Phone Scams with AI
To protect yourself from phone scams with AI, you should keep a few points in mind. Even if it may be difficult at first, try to remain calm, as these attempts aim to emotionally overwhelm you.
If you are skeptical, you can say you will hang up briefly and call back immediately. In this case, of course, you dial the correct number stored in your address book, not the one from which you were called. This way, the scam attempt can be quickly exposed.
In conversations with the AI or the scammers themselves, you can also ask particularly personal questions that no one else would know the answer to: What was the name of the pet you had as a child? What gift did you receive for your birthday? What is your mother’s maiden name?
People can also prepare for emergencies with their relatives in advance, such as agreeing on a shared code word. During a call, you ask for it directly—and if the answer is correct, the call is genuine.