Alarming trends in phone scams: voice cloning and caller ID spoofing. These high-tech tactics are designed to exploit your trust and urgency, but knowledge is your best defense. Read on for practical tips to outsmart scammers and protect your personal information—because staying one step ahead starts with being informed!
-The Editors

👴👵Scam Watch:

Beware of Voice Cloning: Protect Yourself from Scammers

Imagine this: You're sitting at home when the phone rings. On the other end, you hear your son’s voice—shaken, distressed. "Mom, I’m in trouble," he says urgently. "I need money right away. Can you send it to me? Please don’t tell anyone."

Your heart sinks. His voice is unmistakable. What parent wouldn’t rush to help? But in a chilling twist, the voice you trusted could actually belong to a scammer, armed with new technology called voice cloning.

Voice cloning uses artificial intelligence to replicate someone's voice, often with just a small sample taken from a video or voicemail left online. Scammers are leveraging this technology to exploit trust, especially among older adults who are less familiar with the digital tricks criminals now use.

How Voice Cloning Scams Work

1. Gathering the Voice Sample: Scammers scrape public recordings of a person’s voice from platforms like social media, YouTube, or voicemail greetings.

2. Creating the Clone: Using advanced AI software, they generate a replica of the voice. This doesn’t take hours; it can be done in minutes.

3. Setting the Trap: The cloned voice is used to call loved ones, often in scenarios designed to elicit panic—accidents, arrests, or emergencies.

In this scam, urgency is key. Criminals pressure victims into sending money quickly, often via wire transfers or prepaid gift cards, which are harder to trace.

Protect Yourself with These Steps

• Verify the Caller: If you receive an alarming call, pause. Ask questions only your loved one would know how to answer, or hang up and call them back directly using their saved number.

• Be Skeptical of Requests for Money: Urgency and secrecy are red flags. A real emergency won’t require such secrecy.

• Use a Code Word: Establish a family code word for emergencies. If your son or daughter truly needs help, they’ll use it.

• Limit Your Online Exposure: Be cautious about sharing videos or voicemails online. Scammers can use even a few seconds of audio.

• Report Suspicious Calls: If you think you’ve been targeted, contact local authorities or report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Voice cloning is a scary reminder of how technology can be used to exploit trust. Staying informed and vigilant is your best defense. Share this information with friends and loved ones—because while scammers are getting smarter, together, we can outsmart them.

Read up more on this and how to protect yourself here!

We all have a unique relationship with our smartphones—some of us are tech wizards, and some of us are still wondering what the "cloud" is. So, where do you fall on the smartphone expertise spectrum? Take a second to answer below- (no judgment, we promise)!

📚Study of the week:

Don’t Hang On — Hang Up!

On the topic of phone scams— There is a growing number of scammers are now using a trick called “caller ID spoofing” to make it look like they’re calling from a trusted source, like Medicare, Social Security, or even your bank. These fraudsters are trying to trick you into giving out personal information or even handing over money. They’re good at what they do—and they’re using tactics that can catch you off guard.

Why Caller ID Might Not Be What It Seems

When you see a name on your caller ID, it’s easy to assume the call is legitimate. But scammers can spoof (or fake) the number that shows up, making it look like it’s coming from a government agency, your bank, or another trusted organization. The caller might claim they need your information to “resolve an urgent issue,” and try to pressure you into acting quickly—creating a sense of panic.

For example, one common scam involves callers pretending to be from Medicare. They might say there’s a problem with your coverage and demand your Social Security number or other personal details to “fix” it. They’ll even try to make it sound official, using phrases like, “This is an urgent matter that could affect your benefits.” But no matter how convincing they sound, it’s important to remember: you should never give out personal information over the phone unless you’re sure who you’re talking to.

How to Protect Yourself

1. Don’t Trust the Caller ID: Just because a number looks familiar doesn’t mean it’s real. Scammers are experts at spoofing numbers to make their calls look legitimate. If you’re not sure about the call, hang up and dial the organization directly using a number you trust.

2. Take Your Time: Scammers will often try to rush you, saying something like, “You need to act immediately to avoid consequences.” Take a step back and give yourself time to think. Legitimate organizations don’t work this way.

3. Always Verify Before Sharing Information: If someone asks for personal details like your Social Security number or bank account information, don’t give it to them right away. Hang up and contact the organization directly using official contact info from their website or your paperwork.

4. Know the Red Flags: If the call sounds too urgent, too demanding, or too complicated, it might be a scam. Real government agencies or companies will never ask for sensitive information in this way. Always double-check and don’t feel pressured to make decisions on the spot.

5. Report Suspicious Calls: If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam, report it. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other agencies can help investigate and track these scams.

Scammers are always looking for ways to steal your personal information, and caller ID spoofing is just one of their tricks. The best defense is to stay cautious and trust your instincts. If a call feels off or seems too good (or too urgent) to be true, hang up and verify. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

So, next time you get a call from “Medicare” or another government agency, remember: Caller ID can lie. Take a moment to protect your personal information, and don’t let these scammers catch you off guard.

FCC made a great informational page on this

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