AI voice cloning used in "silent call" fraud scheme in Indonesia
A fraud scheme called "Telepon Hening" (Silent Call) operated in Indonesia using AI voice cloning technology. Perpetrators called victims, remained silent to prompt them to speak, recorded their voices, then cloned the samples to impersonate victims and defraud their family members.
What happened
A fraud scheme known as 'Telepon Hening' (Silent Call) operated in Indonesia, using AI voice cloning to steal personal voice samples and commit fraud. Perpetrators called unsuspecting victims and remained silent to prompt the victims to speak, recording voice samples for later use.
The recorded voice samples were then cloned using AI technology to create identical voice imitations, which scammers used to deceive the victims' family members and contacts into sending money by impersonating the victims.
Reported impact
The scheme targeted residents of Tangerang, Banten, attempting to defraud them and their relatives. Victims could unknowingly provide voice samples that enabled fraudsters to impersonate them to their closest contacts.
Index analysis
The Tangerang Communications and Informatics Agency (Dinas Kominfo) identified the scheme as a emerging fraud threat exploiting AI voice cloning technology. The agency linked the silent call tactic to deliberate voice recording for subsequent cloning and misuse.
Governance controls
The Dinas Kominfo Kota Tangerang issued public advisories recommending a 'Silent First' protocol: not initiating conversation on calls from unknown numbers, avoiding key phrases like 'yes', 'hello', or 'who is this', waiting 3 to 5 seconds before responding to calls, and using number-tracking applications to identify spam or scam calls.
The agency advised residents to establish secret passwords known only to immediate family for verification when receiving suspicious calls, and to inform close contacts if they believe they have become victims.
Classification
Sources and evidence
Sources not yet published
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