Let’s be real: answering a random call from an unknown number is already annoying, but when it turns out to be a scammer asking for money or posing as someone you know, it takes irritation to a whole new level. Now imagine that scammer’s voice is so convincing it fools even the sharpest minds. Scary, right? Well, here’s where technology becomes the hero in its own story.
Hiya, a Seattle-based spam and fraud protection firm, has launched an AI-powered assistant designed to stop deepfake scams in real time. The app, Hiya AI Phone, not only screens your calls but also detects AI-generated voices and scam language during live calls, helping users protect themselves from increasingly sophisticated scams.
How It Works:
Hiya AI Phone acts like a personal call assistant, screening unknown calls by answering them on your behalf. It asks callers to identify themselves and state their purpose before deciding whether to connect them to you. While doing this, the app analyzes audio in real time using advanced AI models trained to spot scam-like behavior and synthetic voices.
Here’s where it gets impressive: If the app detects an AI-generated voice or deepfake, it vibrates your phone and displays a warning. So, even if someone’s pretending to be your boss, your bank, or a family member, Hiya can identify subtle patterns that give the scam away.
Who’s Targeted:
- Everyday consumers, especially those who frequently deal with unknown numbers.
- Victims of impersonation scams, including CEOs and individuals targeted for financial fraud.
- Anyone at risk of deepfake voice attacks, which accounted for 1 in 3 scam calls in 2024, according to a Hiya survey.
Real-Life Example:
A survey found that 45% of Americans targeted by deepfake calls in 2024 ended up falling victim, losing an average of $7,200. For instance, CEOs have been tricked into transferring large sums of money after receiving calls from what they believed were their colleagues, only to discover they were speaking to AI-generated voices.
Why You Should Care:
- Time Saver: Americans spend an average of 40 minutes a month fielding unwanted spam calls. Hiya could give you that time back.
- Financial Protection: Deepfake scams are lucrative for criminals, costing victims thousands of dollars per incident.
- Peace of Mind: Knowing you’re shielded from fake voices and malicious calls means fewer sleepless nights.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Download and Use Tools Like Hiya: Apps like Hiya AI Phone can detect scams in real time, giving you the upper hand.
- Verify Callers Manually: Always verify sensitive requests, especially those involving money, by contacting the person or organization directly using official contact details.
- Enable AI Screening: Take advantage of Hiya’s intelligent call screening to avoid interacting with unknown or suspicious callers.
- Report Scams: Share suspicious calls with your app’s reporting feature, helping improve detection tools and protecting others.
- Stay Educated: Learn about deepfake technology and how scammers exploit it.
Quick Tips & Updates:
- Quick Tip #1: Did you know? Deepfake technology uses AI to replicate voices so convincingly that even close acquaintances may not notice the difference.
- Quick Tip #2: Pro Tip: Never trust urgent financial requests over a call. Always double-check through official channels.
With scams growing more sophisticated, tools like Hiya AI Phone remind us that technology isn’t just the problem—it’s also the solution. Protecting yourself from deepfake scams is now as easy as downloading an app and letting it do the heavy lifting.
Stay safe, stay informed,
Key Terms Explained:
- Deepfake: AI-generated media (voice, video, etc.) that mimics real individuals, often used in scams or misinformation.
- Synthetic Voice: A voice generated or modified by AI to sound like a real person.
- AI Call Screening: A feature that uses artificial intelligence to evaluate unknown calls and block scams in real time.
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