How This Scam Works
1
Scammer obtains a short audio clip of the target's voice from social media, voicemail, or other public sources.
2
Using AI voice cloning technology, they create a convincing replica of the person's voice.
3
They call a family member, typically an elderly parent or grandparent, mimicking the voice of their child or grandchild.
4
They claim to be in an emergency: arrested, in an accident, or stranded in another country.
5
They ask for immediate money transfer via wire, gift cards, or cryptocurrency, insisting on secrecy.
Warning Signs
Unexpected call from a 'family member' in distress
Caller asks you not to tell other family members
Urgency and emotional pressure to act immediately
Request for wire transfer, gift cards, or cryptocurrency
Caller avoids answering specific personal questions
Call comes from an unknown number
Real Examples
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How to Protect Yourself
Establish a family code word for emergency verification
Hang up and call the person back on their known number
Ask a question only the real person would know
Never wire money based on a single phone call
Be aware that AI can now clone voices from just a few seconds of audio
Use our Family Safety Codeword Generator tool
Frequently Asked Questions
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Help Protect Others
Share this scam report to warn friends and family.