Artificial intelligence is making cyber scams harder to detect, with criminals increasingly using voice-cloning technology to impersonate family members, friends, officials and even senior executives. A few seconds of publicly available audio can potentially be used to create a convincing imitation of a person’s voice, making an ordinary phone call a powerful tool for fraud.
The tactic can be used across scams, from digital arrest and impersonation fraud to fake emergencies, investment scams and business payment fraud. A victim may receive a call that sounds exactly like a relative claiming to have met with an accident, lost their phone or been detained, followed by an urgent request for money. In other cases, criminals may pose as police officers, government officials or company executives and use a familiar-sounding voice to make their demands appear genuine.
The biggest danger is that people tend to trust a familiar voice. But a voice alone should never be treated as proof of identity.
If a caller suddenly asks for money, pause before acting. Call the person back on their usual number or contact another family member to verify the situation. Avoid continuing the conversation on the number provided by the caller.
Families can also create a private code word or question that only close members would know. This can provide an additional layer of verification when an emergency call appears suspicious.
People should also be careful about how much voice content they make publicly available online. Public videos, reels and audio clips can potentially provide criminals with material for voice cloning.
Most importantly, never share OTPs, PINs, passwords or banking details because someone sounds familiar or claims to be an authority.
If money is lost in a cyber fraud in India, immediately report it by calling 1930 and filing a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal. Acting quickly can improve the chances of stopping or tracing fraudulent transactions.
