AI voice cloning used in fraud schemes
Criminals are using AI voice cloning technology to impersonate people and commit fraud by extracting money and personal information. The U.S. FTC reported $2.7 billion in losses from such scams in 2023, with surveys showing significant victimization rates in the UK.
What happened
Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to clone voices for fraud schemes. They obtain voice samples from social media recordings and videos, then use AI to create realistic conversations and phrases to impersonate family members, friends, or acquaintances in order to extract private information or money from victims.
Reported impact
According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the United States lost 2.7 billion dollars in 2023 from voice cloning scams. Starling Bank reported that in a survey of over 3,000 people in the United Kingdom, more than one quarter of adults said they had been victims of an AI voice cloning scam at least once in the year, and 46% were unaware such scams existed.
Index analysis
The FBI issued a statement warning that attackers are leveraging AI to create convincing voice messages, videos, and emails to perpetrate fraud schemes against individuals and businesses, noting such tactics can result in devastating financial losses, reputational damage, and compromise of confidential data.
Governance controls
ESET recommended that individuals remain alert to unexpected messages requesting money or account credentials, verify calls by reaching out to the person through a known phone number, and establish a pre-agreed 'safe phrase' with family and friends.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.