Criminals only need seconds of your voice to clone it.
Artificial-intelligence voice-cloning scams are rising in San Diego and across the country, with criminals using advanced AI technology to fake emergencies and trick families into sending money. Experts warn scammers can now clone nearly anyone’s voice in seconds — using just a short audio clip pulled from social media posts, videos or voicemails.
To see how easy it is, we asked AI strategist Roberto Moutal to clone a voice using free technology available online. He needed only about 10 seconds of audio. Moutal said recreating someone’s voice is even easier than generating images. The Federal Trade Commission has warned consumers since at least 2023 that scammers can clone a loved one’s voice with just a short audio clip, but, Moutal said, the problem is getting worse as technology advances.“No, no, super simple, all you need is to get 10 seconds of your voice, and that’s all I need to create,” Moutal said. Scammers can easily capture audio from social media posts. Moutal used a brief clip from a human voice to build a voice clone. Within seconds, the AI-generated voice delivered a convincing message.“Hey, Dave, I'm here at the bank, and for some reason, the ATM is not working. I think I may have the wrong PIN number. Can you give it to me again, please?”Law enforcement sources and the FBI say AI “virtual kidnapping” and family emergency scams are exploding. The FBI has issued warnings about criminals using AI-altered media and voice cloning to extort ransom payments in fake kidnapping schemes.A Berkeley study surveying more than 600 people found that participants incorrectly identified AI-generated voices more than 80% of the time.“Today you gotta have some kind of pass phrase or secret phrase with your relatives,” Moutal said.“What is the last movie we saw? Something that no one else but you two would know, and that's the only way you can start believing things,” Moutal said. When creating a safe word, it's advised to do it without any devices nearby in case someone is listening. Experts also recommend never sending money, gift cards or cryptocurrency based solely on a phone call. Instead, hang up and call your loved one back using the number saved in your contacts. If a caller pressures you with urgency or fear, experts say, it is almost certainly a scam. This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.
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