AI-Generated Voice Deepfakes are Being Used in Scams

Images and information from social media (and other online sources) are being used by AI to create "create convincing and personalized scam calls, texts and emails," writes the Palm Beach Post, citing a warning from Florida's consumer watchdog agency. In an older version of the scam, a caller would greet "Grandma" or "Grandpa" before saying, "It's me — I know I sound funny because I have a cold," and then make an urgent plea for money to get out of a scrap... Using audio and video clips found online, the con artist can clone the voice of a family member to make the call more compelling...

Listen for clues to a con like incorrect or mispronounced names or unfamiliar terms of endearment. The pressure to act quickly and to keep the call a secret are all timeless hallmarks of a scam, the agency notes. Detailed instructions on how to deliver funds in a form that is hard to recover — wired funds, a gift card or pay app — are also indications of a ripoff in the making.
The consumer watchdog agency suggests this precaution. "Encourage family members to set their social media pages to private."

Thanks to long-time Slashdot reader SonicSpike for sharing the article.

Already taken care of

[quonset]

a caller would greet "Grandma" or "Grandpa" before saying, "It's me — I know I sound funny because I have a cold," and then make an urgent plea for money to get out of a scrap

I've already told my parents if they get a call claiming I've been kidnapped and the criminals want some ransom money to tell them, "Keep him. He's not worth it" then hang up.

In the current case they're not grandparents so that's another reason to hang up.

Re:

[olsmeister]

They would be missing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to use this:

I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you, but if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you and I wil

Re:

[LazarusQLong]

it was a good plot for a movie, unfortunately they made it two more times.

Re:

[dohzer]

tell them, "Keep him. He's not worth it" then hang up.

I feel blessed to live in a family where this instruction didn't need to be stated explicitly.

Thanks for that article captain obvious!

[ls671]

Thanks for that article captain obvious! Is this Slashdot or the retirement home bulletin? /s

Quick scam detector.

[InterGuru]

Ask the caller "What's the name of your dog" or "Who is your favorite teacher?"

Re:

[NomDeAlias]

Dog might be a pretty easy one to find if someone likes to share photos on social media. Now you've got me debating in my mind who my favorite teacher was. It's down to two and my parents wouldn't know either was my favorite. They have no clue who half my teachers were once high school started and you are rotating teachers based on subject.

Re:

[nospam007]

"Ask the caller "What's the name of your dog" "

What's wrong with Woolfie?

"Who is your favorite teacher?"

Nowadays peepaw doesn't even know which school.

So Arnold Schwarznegger didn't call me yesterday?

[thesjaakspoiler]

He sounded so convincing trying to sell me this car insurance.

And yet, fools oppose vetted Digital IDs

[WindBourne]

Not only is most cyberattacks caused by email, text, IMs, etc impersonating others, but now it is quickly becoming possible to do verbal. And yet, a number of ppl are screaming that vetted DCs are horrible.Amazing.

I am not worried...

[LordHighExecutioner]

...I do not talk, just use Morse code.

Good luck with that ...

[RockDoctor]

Using audio and video clips found online, the con artist can clone the voice of a family member to make the call more compelling...

Always assuming they can find audio or video clips of me online. Which. of course, they won't. Oh, apart from a couple of items on the local News channel, but I don't think they were ever broadcast - a boat sank after the interview.

Doesn't matter

[nospam007]

As long as we can still have our cat-videos narrated by David Attenborough.

Happens a lot on YouTube

[DesScorp]

I'm seeing a lot of AI voice fakery on YouTube. Scammers... some of them being actual web media companies... will release "Official Movie Trailer for ..." stuff generated by AI. Apparently the scam is to get it up fast, generate the clicks, and make as much money as possible before users start modding it down once they realize it's fakery. This weekend there was an "official trailer" about the Joker sequel, with AI generated Jocquin Phoenix and Lady Ga Ga dialogue. In small print, the publisher will put som