Newer attacks exploit AI systems to generate deep-fake voices that sound like people you know. These cloned voices can be very convincing, particularly in a short and possibly frantic call. It might seem that someone is in desperate need of a cash transfer or sensitive information to address an urgent situation. They may be calling from a number you do not recognize, but they will have a story about a missing or broken phone to explain that. Even if the voice sounds real, any unusual request for money or information should make you cautious. The safest approach is to hang up and call the person back on a number you know is genuine, or contact them through another channel, such as email. CYBERSECURITY TIPS: HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM PHONE AND TEXT FRAUD Protection from these scams requires a combination of technical tools and behavioral changes. Modern smartphones often have built-in features to filter known spam calls and messages. Keep these features active and report any suspicious numbers to your service provider. Technology can help a lot, but you cannot rely on it to catch every threat. Set a rule for yourself that you never click on links in unsolicited text messages or emails. If a message claims there is an issue with an account, go to the company’s official website in a web browser by manually entering the address or using a bookmark you know is legitimate. If you have an official app for a service provider, then use that. The best policy with phone calls is to be skeptical of any unknown caller or unexpected call. Do not divulge personal information and never share multi-factor authentication codes over the phone. Those codes are for your use, and no legitimate customer support agent will ever ask for them. The same is true of passwords and PINs. Hanging up and calling back using a known number is a good protective step. The advent of AI scams has added some new risks. Fraudsters can use recordings of your voice to create a clone. In particular, the word “yes” can sometimes be used to confirm authorization for illegitimate transactions. If you answer a call and the caller asks, “Can you hear me?”, they want you to say “Yes.” If you have any doubts about the call, stay silent and hang up. STAYING VIGILANT AGAINST EVOLVING DIGITAL THREATS Maintaining a professional and polite degree of skepticism is the best way to reduce the risk of falling victim to these evolving threats. Make sure that any filtering and safety features on your phone are switched on. Be wary of unexpected messages, calls or callers. Do not click on links sent to you. Navigate directly instead. Check suspicious messages via a second communication channel, using contact details you know are genuine. A message that creates a sense of urgency should ring an alarm bell and give you pause for thought. Do not divulge personal information, passwords, 2FA codes or PINs. If you have any doubts, end the call. These precautions might feel excessive, but any legitimate caller will understand your reasons for being careful.
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