Many of the frantic calls generated by artificial intelligence demanding money are scams.
ATLANTA — There is nothing scarier than receiving a call that someone close to you is in serious trouble and needs immediate help and money. It’s happening to thousands of people right now.
Diane Jacobus and her mother share a deep bond. It’s the same love a mother has for her grandchildren.
So when the mother received a frantic call for help from someone claiming to be her grandson, she sprang into action.
“He was really excited and really upset,” she explained. “‘Grandma, I’m in trouble. I was in a car accident. I’m in the hospital and the police have me in custody.’ It’s like, ‘The person I hit is pregnant and I might lose the baby. , and it may have been a vehicular homicide.” So they really encouraged my mom,” Jacobus said.
The caller told her she needed $9,000. She immediately went to the bank to get the money. It wasn’t until later that Jacobus’ mother realized it was a scam.
“I think they just got lucky. I think they’re calling random numbers,” Jacobus added.
These scams have become much more sophisticated, including using artificial intelligence to imitate the voice of a loved one. Jonathan Zufi, a computer expert and longtime cybersecurity expert, explained how easy it is.
“You just have to find someone saying something. It’s available on social media, YouTube, TikTok, all the other social media channels, and you can even call someone and record it if you get a voicemail.” Zufi said.
With his help, we simulated an AI call. We recorded the voice of 11Alive’s Bill Liss and wrote down what we wanted to say. The AI did the rest.
There are several steps you can take to avoid being scammed.
“Be aware of how urgently they are trying to remedy the situation. It is always a very clear sign that it is a scam,” Zufi added.
Zufi suggested having a code word (something simple) and asking callers for it from the beginning.
“Then you stop, pause, try to get as much information as possible, and end up actually ending the call and calling the person back so they don’t think you’re actually talking.” You need to make sure you’re talking to someone who can.” Zuffi said.
For Jacobus, that’s a shocking reality.
“You can’t believe anything anymore. Always stop and ask. I wish she would have called me or called her grandson back to see if this was really you.” ” Jacobus added.
Below are links to important scam alert websites and helpful information.
