- That Family Emergency Call is Probably Just AI
What You Need to Know
Imagine getting a phone call from a loved one—your child or grandchild—frantically telling you they’ve been in a car accident or arrested and urgently need bail money or emergency cash. What makes this new wave of phone scams so terrifying is that the voice on the other end sounds exactly like your family member. Using short audio clips harvested from social media or video posts, scammers now use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to clone a person’s voice and mimic their speech patterns, tone, and accent with shocking accuracy.
These scammers play heavily on fear and urgency, warning you not to hang up or call anyone else because “there isn’t time.” They will often ask you to send funds immediately via wire transfer, cryptocurrency, bank transfer, or digital payment apps. Because the voice sounds so familiar, many people panic and send money before taking a moment to double-check whether the emergency is real.
What You Should Do
- Hang up and call back directly. Never rely on the incoming caller ID. Immediately end the call and reach out to your family member using the trusted phone number saved in your contacts list.
- Establish a safe word. Create a secret codeword or phrase with your family that only you share. If anyone ever calls claiming to be in an emergency, ask them for the safe word before taking any action.
- How are they asking for money? Legitimate police departments, lawyers, and legal officials will never demand immediate payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or payment apps.
- Lock-down what audio you have online. Keep in mind that posting public videos or voice clips on social media gives scammers the raw material they need to clone voices. Adjust your privacy settings so only known friends and family can view your posts.
Think you are being scammed? Call our scam hotline or email us for help:
(801)-724-6211
scamwatch@invisus.com
