You know you’re living in the future when you need a secret password to talk to your own mother. Welcome to 2025—where AI can mimic voices better than your karaoke app and scam you using your sister’s face.
In this publication, we’re uncovering a chilling new scam powered by artificial intelligence: deepfake impersonation fraud. And this one’s personal—it uses your own family’s voice and likeness to steal your trust and your money.
AI scams are getting so convincing, cybersecurity experts now recommend you create secret passwords with your loved ones—yes, really.
How It Works:
AI tools, once reserved for sci-fi thrillers, are now widely available online—some even free. Scammers are using them to impersonate people you know and trust. Here’s how the play unfolds:
- They get your data – From past data breaches, social media, or hacked emails, scammers gather details about you and your contacts.
- They clone a voice or video – Using AI, they mimic a loved one’s voice or face in a video or call.
- They create urgency – A panicked call asking for help, money, or sensitive info. It sounds exactly like someone you love.
- They exploit your instincts – You respond emotionally, not logically—and send money, give access, or click a link.
Who’s Targeted:
This scam is terrifyingly democratic:
- Elderly individuals may lack digital literacy to spot fake video or voice calls.
- Young people often overshare on social media, giving scammers rich material.
- Anyone who’s had their email, voice, or face online—basically, all of us—is fair game.
Real-Life Example:
Cybersecurity CEO Cody Barrow, who’s advised the U.S. government, admitted he now uses a secret code phrase with his wife to verify identity on FaceTime or WhatsApp. Why? Because even he worries that an AI-generated clone of his voice could fool her.
Barrow warns: “I think it’s very real… we will see that it’s much easier to generate deepfakes to fool people. So I very much think everyone should have a secret password.”
Why You Should Care:
This isn’t about paranoid worst-case scenarios—it’s already happening. AI impersonation scams are:
- Hard to detect: You may not realize it’s fake until it’s too late.
- Emotionally manipulative: They target your deepest relationships—family, friends, partners.
- Financially devastating: Victims often send thousands thinking they’re helping a loved one.
Even large organizations like Marks & Spencer were recently breached due to social engineering, not sophisticated hacking. The human element—trust—is the vulnerability.
How to Protect Yourself:
• Set Up a Secret Code
Create a private phrase or question only you and your trusted contacts know. Use it to verify any suspicious or urgent message, call, or video.
• Question the Urgency
Scammers use pressure to get you to act fast. Pause. Think. Confirm through a separate, verified method.
• Turn Off Auto-Answering Services
AI can scrape your voicemail to mimic your voice. Limit the amount of your voice online or in public digital spaces.
• Secure Your Accounts
Use strong, unique passwords. Enable 2FA (but beware that it’s not foolproof if you’re tricked into entering it).
• Talk to Your Family
Have the conversation now. Don’t wait for “something weird” to happen.
Quick Tips & Updates:
Quick Tip #1: Did you know AI voice-cloning can be done using as little as three seconds of your voice?
Pro Tip: Always verify “urgent” calls from family with another method—text, phone, or in-person—before sending money or info.
Update: Cybercriminals are increasingly multilingual, using native-level English to exploit trust—meaning your “gut check” for bad grammar or awkward phrasing may no longer work.
Stay safe, stay informed.
Keywords:
• Deepfake Scam – A fraud using AI to mimic a person’s appearance or voice to deceive someone.
• Social Engineering – A manipulation technique used to trick people into giving up sensitive information.
• Secret Code Phrase – A shared, private password or question used to verify identity in suspicious interactions.
• Voice Cloning – AI-powered duplication of someone’s voice, often used in impersonation scams.
• Data Breach – An incident where personal data is exposed, often leading to identity theft or fraud.
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