Many of us are aware of a much-used deception in which one is conned by imposters acting as doctors or police officers. They inform victims that their beloved is in grave peril and demand urgent monetary aid.
NPR says:
“Sounds like a plot from a science fiction movie.”
The FTC has recently released a consumer advisory alerting of a surfacing scam; con artists are taking advantage of artificial intelligence to record people’s voices and use this recorded speech to scam their friends and family.
The FTC, which has taken a close look at this for a while now, states that for the con artist to use voice-cloning technology to impersonate a family member, all that is needed is a small recording of their voice as well as the program.
NPR went on to say:
“The con artist will sound exactly like your loved one when he phones you.”
Humans may require expensive equipment to produce audio resembling original snippets; however, dishonesty does not limit players from obtaining them. These people can instead scour online TED Lectures or use low-cost web tools for the same purpose.
Hany Farid, a professor of digital forensics at UC Berkeley, declared this month that it has become feasible for anyone to clone someone’s voice if they have either a Facebook page or have posted a TikTok with their voice in it for 30 seconds.
The FTC has reported that in 2022, people were defrauded of over $11 million via telephone scams. Unfortunately, once money is taken from victims through these frauds, there is often no recovery method.
Hany Farid says:
“There is no coverage. You can’t get it back. Benjamin Perkin, whose elderly parents lost more than $15,000 after receiving a call from a “lawyer.”
“It’s gone “
Suppose you ever receive a call from someone claiming to be a loved one and asking for money, especially if they ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, or ask you to wire the money. In that case, the FTC advises hanging up and calling them back directly to verify that it is them saying they are in prison and need cash.
A call that, seemingly, has been made from a known person’s number can still be a part of this problem – the number could be false. Consequently, tackling this difficulty is quite a challenging task.
Technology is becoming increasingly sophisticated, but according to The Post, tracking down nuisance calls is difficult. Furthermore, it mentions that government regulators, police enforcement, and courts are not properly outfitted to handle the problem.
The ingredients necessary to produce mayhem are all present, making it an ideal storm, according to Farid of UC Berkeley. Please go here to report a possible scam to the FTC (Federal Trade Commission).
It’s essential to remain vigilant and cautious when receiving calls or messages from unknown numbers, especially when they claim to be someone you know. Always verify the person’s identity on the other end of the line before sharing personal information or sending money.
In conclusion, while AI technology has its benefits, it’s crucial to recognize and address the potential risks and vulnerabilities that come with it. We can protect ourselves and our loved ones from falling prey to AI scammers by staying informed and cautious.
Source: Wayne Dupree
