tech

December 21, 2025

‘Help! I need money. It’s an emergency’: your child’s voicemail that could be a scam

Steps to help combat fraud in which criminals use AI-generated replica of a person’s voice to deceive victims

‘Help! I need money. It’s an emergency’: your child’s voicemail that could be a scam

TL;DR

  • Criminals use AI to clone voices from as little as three seconds of audio.
  • Scammers create fake voicemails or calls, often simulating a loved one in distress after an accident or emergency.
  • The goal is to exploit emotions and urgency to prompt immediate money transfers.
  • Audio snippets for cloning can be obtained from social media videos or brief phone interactions.
  • Victims are urged to remain calm, think critically, and verify the authenticity of the call.
  • Even caller ID can be faked; it's best to call the supposed sender back directly.
  • Establishing a secret codeword with family can help verify genuine emergencies.

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