This is a very timely warning. In the age of artificial intelligence (AI), scammers are no longer just after your credit card numbers. They are after something much more personal: your voice.
A technology known as Voice Cloning can create a believable copy from a short recording of your voice, which scammers can then use to trick your loved ones or banking systems.
Here are the “three words” and the mechanism by which they want to get you into this trap:
- The most dangerous word: “Yes”
A scammer calls you and asks a seemingly banal question: “Can you hear me?” or “Is that you, Mrs. Novak?”
Why it’s dangerous: If you answer “Yes,” the scammer will record this word. In the future, they can edit it into a recording that sounds like you’re confirming a bank transaction, agreeing to a contract, or authorizing a payment.
- Your name and surname
If you answer an unknown number and immediately introduce yourself with your full name, you’re giving them the first building block for their scam.
What they do with it: The combination of a recording of your name and your phone number makes it easier for them to impersonate you when talking to operators or authorities.
- “I agree” or “I confirm”
Like a simple “yes,” these words are a “gold mine” for scammers. They often lead you to them with recorded machine voices or questions like “Do you agree to our new terms and conditions that we wrote to you about?”
🛡️ How to defend yourself when calling from an unknown number?
Silence is golden: If you pick up the phone and there’s a second or two of silence on the other end (often an autodialer), hang up immediately.
Answer with a question: Instead of “Yes, I hear you,” say “Who’s calling?” or “Who am I talking to?” This will avoid the confirmation word.
Family password: Agree on a “security password” with your family. If someone (who sounds like your relative) calls you from an unknown number and asks for money, ask them for this password. An AI clone won’t know it.
Watch out for emotions: Voice scammers are trying to put you under stress (scenario: “I had an accident, send me money!”). Always end the call and call the person back on their regular number.
Are you curious about how voice cloning technology works exactly, or do you want to know how to tell if a call is generated by AI?