LONDON: Posting voice recordings online could potentially lead to scam attempts being made against family members and friends, a bank warns.
Starling Bank has identified voice cloning scams, where fraudsters imitate a person’s voice using videos shared on social media, as a significant threat. A survey revealed that nearly half (46%) of respondents were unaware that such scams exist.
The bank explained that criminals can use AI technology to replicate a person’s voice from just a few seconds of audio, easily obtained from online videos. Scammers can then contact the victim’s family members using the cloned voice, posing as the individual and requesting urgent financial assistance.
In the survey, 8% of participants indicated they would send money if asked, even if the request seemed suspicious. Additionally, nearly 30% (28%) believed they might have been targeted by an AI voice cloning scam in the past year, according to a Mortar Research study involving over 3,000 people in the UK.
Starling Bank suggested establishing a “safe phrase” with close friends and family to verify a caller’s identity. However, the bank cautioned that such phrases could also be compromised. The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign advises individuals to pause and consider whether a request might be a scam. If uncertain, they should contact a trusted friend or family member or call 159 to reach their bank directly.
Many banks, including Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Halifax, and HSBC, can be reached through this number. If someone suspects they have been scammed, they should contact their bank or payment provider immediately and report it to the police.
Lisa Grahame, Chief Information Security Officer at Starling Bank, emphasized that people often post content featuring their voices without realizing it increases their vulnerability to fraud. “Scammers only need three seconds of audio to clone your voice, but taking a few minutes to establish a safe phrase with loved ones can help protect you,” she said.
Lord Sir David Hanson, Minister of State at the Home Office with Responsibility for Fraud, acknowledged that while AI offers great potential, vigilance is crucial to combat AI-enabled fraud.
