Scam Alert: You Need to Know About This AI Scam ASAP!!.
Updated: 45 minutes ago
By D.Hand
Presented by Omni-U Virtual University
Today, I received a voicemail message asking for a person I didn't know. However, since it seemed to be urgent that the information left be received by the person who was named, I called the number back. Normally I WOULD NOT have taken any action, but just in case the mistake put the person named in legal jeopardy, I decided to call the number to let the caller know that their message.had been left at the wrong number. Even before the call was answered, I suspected that it was a scam setup of some kind, but, I took that chance in case the message was legitimately urgent. When I told the person who answered that they had left their message at the wrong number, their response was that they would erase my number from their “system.” At first, this may seem like a simple ending to this story. But, I know better and hope you will share this message to warn others in advance. Here is where the problem comes in for all of us.
By answering such a call, or returning such a call, you are giving someone a sample of your voice that can be possibly used by an Artificial Intelligence app to create a fake voice message from you to be sent to your family or friend asking for money or personal info. Such scams are now on the rise.
The bottom line is: Warn your family and friends and let them know what you want them to do should they ever get voice messages from you claiming to need emergecy money or private info.
The Better Buisness Bureau suggests having a family “code-word” to confirm that you are actually talking to a family member with a legitimate emergency Even so, a code-word can be compromised. So, I am sharing what I've done with my own family.
Family members have been told not to respond to any such texts or call messages claiming to be from me, saying that I'm in need emergency money or asking for information. Do not respond to these calls! Instead, call and talk to me directly. It's not enough to ask whether the message was really from me because any number left in the scam message can create an auto-answer- that sounds like my voice- to answer that number and say, "Hey, Yes I really left the message and please send the money. But, I can't talk now. Bye."
Furthermore, Family members are instructed to call me at the number they already have to make sure we talk about things only we know so, they can verify that I am responding with accurate answers in real time. Perhaps, ask questions like whether or not I’m still planning to go to Hawaii, or how my dog is doing- questions to which they already know the answers. Unlike an imposter, I will talk to them about things that only I would know and never ask them for personal information.
You might be wondering why I ever called that other number back knowing what I know about AI. I did so because I did not want to chance that I would allow someone else's life to be harmed by my inaction. Despite the tricks of AI, we still have to try to navigate the real life in which humans actually have emergencies. In this case, I understood the chance I was taking and did so with extreme caution knowing the risk and how to offset it.
But guess what? Even if you or I choose to never answer or return such calls, we are ALL still already at risk of being targets of AI voice scams and we ALL need a plan ASAP because our voices can easily be sampled from our voicemail greetings. The scammer really didn't even need a call- back from me in order to get a sample of my voice. Also, many of us are posting voice samples via social media, so, we should all have a plan in place- ASAP-for how to deal with this.
Thanks to AI, we are in a NEW WORLD and EVERYONE should get a clear understanding of what AI is and how it works or you will simply remain AI illiterate as it takes over your life. This is exactly the reason that I wrote “We The Algorithms: ArtificialIntelligence- What It Is! What it Will Do! How It Will Do It!
This personal story was not shared to promote my book. My book was written to help humanity survive AI. My heart is in this all the way and it matters less whose book you buy than that you quickly educate yourself on this subject! My book is designed to cover AI thoroughly, easily, and profoundly because it is important to me and I am in a hurry to help people become smart about this subject- far beyond voice scams and new gadgets. AI is deep. Should you choose to learn about it from me, a link to my book is below.
D. Hand author of We The Algorithms - Artificial Intelligence - What It Is! What It Will Do! How It Will Do It!
