We've seen it all here at the Seniors Discount Club—there isn't a scam we haven't heard of. Or is there? This latest warning from a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair is one we think all our members should pay close attention to.

According to FTC Chair Lina Khan, scams involving artificial intelligence (AI) —specifically, voice clones—are on the rise and fooling unsuspecting victims with ease. It’s a troubling development, and we want to equip you with the knowledge to protect yourselves from these advanced scams.

Remain vigilant and exercise scepticism when it comes to phone calls or messages from unfamiliar sources. Image by JESHOOTS-com from pixabay

Khan highlighted how dangerous these sophisticated scams can be. She stated that AI has the potential to 'turbocharge' them by using voice clones to impersonate family members or loved ones in distress, increasing the chances of the victim parting with their hard-earned money, according to Bloomberg.

'We need to be vigilant early,' Khan said. 'If anything, you need to be especially vigilant on the front end because it’s much more difficult to solve these problems after.'

Voice cloning technology has become sophisticated enough to fool even the most attentive listener. A recent CNN report revealed that fake kidnapping calls using voice-clone technology had become increasingly common in the scamming world.

In one harrowing account, Jennifer DeStefano described receiving a call wherein scammers demanded a $1 million ransom for their daughter, using AI technology to imitate her daughter’s voice. 'The voice sounded just like Brie’s, the inflection, everything,' she told CNN. You can read more about the story here.

AI voice clones have infiltrated other areas too. One notable example occurred when a relatively easy-to-spot fake image of the Pentagon being attacked caused an actual dip in the stock market.

'As this stuff becomes more embedded in how daily decisions are being made, I think they invite and merit a lot of scrutiny,' Khan said. 'Those problems and concerns are quite urgent, and I think enforcers, be it at the state level or the national level, are going to be acting.'

How To Protect Yourself​

Here are some important steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams:

• Be vigilant and question phone calls or messages from unusual sources.
• If an unknown caller claims a family member is distressed or demands money, stay calm and verify the information through alternate channels.
• Utilise technology like caller ID and call-blocking features on your smartphone to avoid unknown numbers.
• Report suspicious calls to local law enforcement.
• Educate friends and family about these types of scams, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to avoid falling victim.
• Don’t believe everything you see and hear. Sophisticated scammers can produce very authentic looking fakes.

Key Takeaways

• AI tools, particularly voice clones, are supercharging scams, according to FTC Chair Lina Khan.
• Khan warned that officials would need to be proactive in stopping AI-powered fraud.
• Voice clones have proven capable of fooling people, even in fake kidnapping calls demanding ransoms.
• Khan emphasises the urgency of addressing these concerns and the need for enforcers at the state and national levels to take action.

Have you encountered suspicious calls or messages lately? How do you stay one step ahead of scammers? Share your experiences and insights, as your wisdom may help others in the community.

 

[Babbie]

I haven’t encountered any suspicious calls, as I never answer numbers I don’t recognise. Problem solves.

 

[IanB.]

We've seen it all here at the Seniors Discount Club—there isn't a scam we haven't heard of. Or is there? This latest warning from a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) chair is one we think all our members should pay close attention to.

According to FTC Chair Lina Khan, scams involving artificial intelligence (AI) —specifically, voice clones—are on the rise and fooling unsuspecting victims with ease. It’s a troubling development, and we want to equip you with the knowledge to protect yourselves from these advanced scams.

View attachment 21643

Remain vigilant and exercise scepticism when it comes to phone calls or messages from unfamiliar sources. Image by JESHOOTS-com from pixabay

Khan highlighted how dangerous these sophisticated scams can be. She stated that AI has the potential to 'turbocharge' them by using voice clones to impersonate family members or loved ones in distress, increasing the chances of the victim parting with their hard-earned money, according to Bloomberg.

'We need to be vigilant early,' Khan said. 'If anything, you need to be especially vigilant on the front end because it’s much more difficult to solve these problems after.'

Voice cloning technology has become sophisticated enough to fool even the most attentive listener. A recent CNN report revealed that fake kidnapping calls using voice-clone technology had become increasingly common in the scamming world.

In one harrowing account, Jennifer DeStefano described receiving a call wherein scammers demanded a $1 million ransom for their daughter, using AI technology to imitate her daughter’s voice. 'The voice sounded just like Brie’s, the inflection, everything,' she told CNN. You can read more about the story here.

AI voice clones have infiltrated other areas too. One notable example occurred when a relatively easy-to-spot fake image of the Pentagon being attacked caused an actual dip in the stock market.

'As this stuff becomes more embedded in how daily decisions are being made, I think they invite and merit a lot of scrutiny,' Khan said. 'Those problems and concerns are quite urgent, and I think enforcers, be it at the state level or the national level, are going to be acting.'

How To Protect Yourself​

Here are some important steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams:

• Be vigilant and question phone calls or messages from unusual sources.
• If an unknown caller claims a family member is distressed or demands money, stay calm and verify the information through alternate channels.
• Utilise technology like caller ID and call-blocking features on your smartphone to avoid unknown numbers.
• Report suspicious calls to local law enforcement.
• Educate friends and family about these types of scams, equipping them with the knowledge and tools to avoid falling victim.
• Don’t believe everything you see and hear. Sophisticated scammers can produce very authentic looking fakes.

Key Takeaways

• AI tools, particularly voice clones, are supercharging scams, according to FTC Chair Lina Khan.
• Khan warned that officials would need to be proactive in stopping AI-powered fraud.
• Voice clones have proven capable of fooling people, even in fake kidnapping calls demanding ransoms.
• Khan emphasises the urgency of addressing these concerns and the need for enforcers at the state and national levels to take action.

Have you encountered suspicious calls or messages lately? How do you stay one step ahead of scammers? Share your experiences and insights, as your wisdom may help others in the community.

Such spooky stuff and they have not really started when photo AI scams --- as a photographer that is so scary to what is possible .

 

[terri]

This is so disturbing. I understand technology has to get better, I guess, but it also opens up more doors for criminals to take our hard earned money. Not sure why AI is necessary when it is possible to rip off unsuspecting people. We should try to stop making it easier for scammers and find a way to stop them.

 

[Babbie]

This is so disturbing. I understand technology has to get better, I guess, but it also opens up more doors for criminals to take our hard earned money. Not sure why AI is necessary when it is possible to rip off unsuspecting people. We should try to stop making it easier for scammers and find a way to stop them.

I don’t know if much can be done. A lot of these scammers are based overseas and authorities here have no control. People just have to remain vigilant. Don’t answer phone calls if you don’t recognise a number, if it is important, a message will be left. We are constantly being told NOT to click on links of any kind. Phone the business or bank yourself to verify the call.