The notorious grandparent phone scam has taken a chilling turn in Montreal as artificial intelligence (AI) is suspected to play a role in the latest wave of fraudulent schemes. Traditional scams targeting grandparents have been given a modern twist, utilizing AI to mimic voices with alarming precision.
The Multilingual Twist:
In a recent incident, a 73-year-old Montreal resident received a distressing call, allegedly from the RCMP, stating her grandson had been arrested on drug charges. The supposed officer passed the phone to the grandson, Milan, urging his grandmother to provide $10,000 in bail money. What made this scam particularly sophisticated was the AI’s ability to duplicate Milan’s voice, seamlessly switching between English and Italian, mimicking his usual conversational mannerisms.
Similar instances have been reported, indicating a pattern of AI-driven voice cloning. Another family experienced a strikingly similar scenario, where the caller not only replicated the grandson’s voice but also incorporated personal details and nicknames, making the scam more convincing.
The Role of AI in Voice Cloning:
Technology analyst Carmi Levy explains that the use of voice cloning, facilitated by AI, allows scammers to listen to examples of the victim’s voice available on the internet. The AI then trains itself to replicate the voice, tone, accents, and mannerisms, creating a shockingly authentic audio experience. The technology’s increasing sophistication raises concerns about its potential for more widespread use in scams.
The Terrifying Realism:
Voice cloning technology has reached a level where it can replicate an individual so convincingly that victims find it challenging to distinguish the scam from reality. The ability to mirror not only the voice but also personal nuances adds a terrifying dimension to these scams.
Protective Measures and Advice:
- Awareness of Scam Signs: Experts advise families to educate themselves about common signs of grandparent scams, such as urgent requests for money, out-of-character behavior, or threats.
- Authentication Methods: Consider using secret code words or specific questions only the real family member would know to authenticate their identity.
- Direct Verification: In case of suspicion, hang up and independently call the family member using their known phone number to verify their situation.
- Reporting and Vigilance: Victims or those suspecting a scam should report it to the police, monitor financial records, and update passwords to prevent unauthorized access.
Expert Opinion and Advice:
Carmi Levy, a technology analyst, emphasizes the need for vigilance and understanding the evolving nature of scams. “Grandparent’s scams have been around for years, but with the addition of voice cloning into the scammers’ toolkit, it’s now raised it to a terrifying new level,” warns Levy.
As scams continue to exploit technological advancements, it is crucial for individuals to trust their instincts and take cyber threats seriously. Jessica Di Palma, reflecting on her mother’s ordeal, adds a word of advice, “If there’s one word of advice I can also share with everyone, it’s just follow that intuition. If there’s that gut feeling that’s telling you something is wrong, just follow it. Don’t doubt it.”
