In an increasingly connected world, tech scams are constantly evolving and now scammers have found a new way to trick people: through the use of cloned voices created by Artificial Intelligence (AI) toask for money.
Tech Scams: Understanding the Voice Cloning Scam
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Recent advances in artificial intelligence technology are allowing the creation of extremely realistic cloned voices, using just a few seconds of audio as a reference.
Tools like VALL-E, developed by Microsoft, and Synthesia are making it possible to generate long and convincing audio based on this short recording.
However, this new capability has been exploited by scammers, who are taking advantage of the cloned voices to trick people and extort money.
Recently, a case in Brazil drew attention: the father of a digital influencer was a victim of this type of scam. A cloned voice of your son got in touch and requested a transfer of BRL 600.
The resemblance was so striking that the father was not suspicious and carried out the transaction immediately.
How to protect yourself from the voice cloning scam
Faced with situations like this, the losses can be enormous. Therefore, the ideal is to know how to protect yourself. Check out some methods of preventing the scam:
- Be smart with information
Before you go out and do anything based on a call, message, or video, it's important to verify information from additional credible sources. Call back, confirm via email, or consult others who can vouch for authenticity.
Don't rush, it's always better to be sure before you act!
- protect your data
Don't go around sharing all your personal data on the internet. The less information you provide, the less material available to cybercriminals who want to create deepfakes or imitate your voice.
- Stay up to date with technology news
Stay informed about how these technologies work and stay on top of the latest fraud tactics.
- Check before transferring
Always check with the recipient before sending money to a family member or friend, especially if the request came over the phone. This is a very important tip not tofall into blows.