Cyber criminals are getting faster and more accurate in obtaining victims’ personal and banking information. Computer fraud specialist Javier Alvarez says it takes just four seconds to clone a person’s voice to create fake audio recordings and deceive their family and friends.
This type of fraud, enhanced by technologies such as artificial intelligence, is becoming increasingly popular, and if we do not let our guard down, we could face the consequences.
What is voice cloning fraud?
At Cybercamp III, organised by the National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) and the University of León, Alvarez explained that 90% of online crime is computer fraud and the vast majority of it is economic. He adds that caution should be exercised when it comes to“urgent requests”.
Voice cloning scams, also known as voice hacking, create voice recordings of victims’ voices and use them against acquaintances and family members to ask for money or attempt other fraudulent activities. Scammers can record a person’s voice without their consent and use this audio to send fake messages that appear to be real.
According to an expert, if a relative’s voice calls you and asks you to do Bizum or transfer money because he needs money, has lost his wallet or whatever, “you will believe it because it is his voice”. They may also ask you to remind them of some important information, as if they have forgotten it, and thus get the information.
They may pretend to be not only a family member or friend, but also you, your work colleagues and even your boss. For this reason, Alvarez stresses that it is always better to be vigilant and that although you may lose face in front of a friend because you did not lend them money, “99% of the time we will avoid fraud”.
How can you protect yourself from voice hacking scams?
INCIBE offers some basic tips and preventive measures to protect yourself from this increasingly common type of fraud.
- Beware of calls from unfamiliar numbers: if you decide to answer, check the identity of the caller before providing your personal details. Be suspicious of strange requests or stories that create a sense of urgency and always check the information. Stay calm, take your time, and if in doubt, seek help from someone you trust.
- Avoid using voice assistants in public places: In public places, voice assistants can intercept conversations or commands that malicious people can use to trick you or clone your voice. Use them only in private and secure places to reduce this risk.
- Keep your devices up to date – Updating your devices and software is very important as these updates often fix security flaws and protect against new attacks. Install security updates and patches as soon as they become available.
