So, there you are, trying to be cool with 7.30am school run traffic, when your phone rings. It’s your husband *insert generic but relatable name here*. You obviously pause your Spotify playlist, albeit begrudgingly (something 90’s had just started playing) and take that call – he tells you in a rush that he has been in an accident, he’s ok(ish) – injured but alive and that the ambulance is on its way. For some reason though they require a payment up front to transport him. And yeah, that’s pretty weird, but he’s talking so fast and you’re so stressed that it almost makes sense. It’s enough to make you ignore the warning bells screaming ‘where’s his wallet?’ and ‘why doesn’t he pull up his medical aid card?’
Anyway, he asks you to do a quick instant transfer to an account. “No problem,” you say as you disconnect the call before slowly turning to your husband *generic name* who is actually sitting on your passenger seat with his mouth wide open staring at the phone. Welcome to the brave new world of Ai scamming. Unlike good old traditional scamming – remember the halcyon days of cloned cards and ‘inheritance’ emails, such simple times, there is every chance that you could get duped by one of these.
Ai is an awesome invention, in good hands (like ours). It helps doctors make early diagnosis for heavens sakes. Like, how great is that. We ourselves use it to read number plates, recognize suspicious faces, and create virtual lines that can’t be crossed, amongst a host of other new and exciting features. But unfortunately, there is a dark side to every good force, and Ai scamming is it. Sigh, right! But, while it may feel very ‘rise of the machines’ right now, don’t panic quite yet.
Oh Know! The Bad Guys have Ai too. Here’s What to do.
You could probably make a compelling argument for disconnecting your grans phone around about now. Especially since just last week she nearly became a child bride to a Nigerian drug lord. But alas you are going to have to refrain from doing so, she needs that thing, but please take her and the rest of your family through the following information. It’s vital.
- Ai scams use remarkable facsimiles of a loved one’s voice, they can be created from just a few seconds of talking on the phone to an unknown number selling you life insurance (when will you learn?) or the super delicious cupcake you spoke up on TikTok that time. So, be careful what information you share about yourself and your family, because it is all weaponized.
- FYI. A few months ago, these scam voices may have lagged, or been a bit stilted in their responses, but Ai is changing more rapidly than some people change their underwear (gross), and now there are no real discernable discrepancies in the way it speaks.
- Phones can be cloned – so it will look like you are receiving a call from a known number, or institute or business. Basically, be wary of everything and everyone.
- Have a safe word with your family, that you use on calls that seem a bit ‘off,’ to ensure that you are in fact talking to who you are supposed to be talking too.
- Hang up. Like really. If there is some crazy emergency, with a push for money or information. Disconnect. Then try and call that person back on their number via your address book (i.e., don’t just hit redial) or if it was the bank for instance, look up their number online and call that. Chances are they will answer with their mouth full of sandwich and wonder what you’re on about. Congratulations. You just avoided being scammed.
- Ask the caller a random but specific question that they won’t be able to answer. What did you watch on Netflix last night (trick question you were watching Futurama on Disney +), or what did you have for breakfast at 7.05am.
- Listen for inconsistencies. If the person on the other end of the line is acting out of character, that’s a red flag. Raise it and let it fly.
- We know you have a soft heart, like your gran who still thinks the Nigerian drug lord was a ‘lovely young man’, but don’t give into emotional appeals. These guys are professionals. Building trust is what they do. The best course of action is to politely hang up and then call us, In Case of Anything.
- A message from the banks. Yes, it may still be a little early but the festive period is racing toward us, and there is generally a big uptick in fraud and scams during this time as people let down their guard and shop a bit more. Be extra vigilant of ‘bank representatives’ calling you and asking for your details or asking you to perform something on your banking profile.
In short, we are all just going to have to stay extra switched on, especially when it comes to Ai. Some of you may hate the idea of it and prefer not to look directly at it, fair response, but we believe the opposite is true if you want to survive it. Interrogate it, get to know it, so that you can better counter it if it is used against you. We maintain that knowledge is the best defense (apart from us). That said, call us, In Case of Anything.
