AI is being used to scam over the phone. New tools can copy the sound of a real voice from a short audio clip. That clip might come from a voicemail greeting, a social media video, or a recorded call. The tool then creates new speech in that voice, saying words the real person never said.

The FTC, the Federal Trade Commission, warned about this in a 2023 consumer alert. A scammer needs only a short clip to make a convincing copy.

You don’t need to understand the technology to stay safe. You only need a few calm habits. This guide is for older adults who want to feel confident on the phone.

The disguises vary, but the pattern doesn’t

Many people hear about this as a scam that copies a grandchild’s voice. That version is real. But the same technology shows up in several forms:

• A family member in trouble calls, is asking for money right away, and asks you to keep it private.
• Your bank’s “fraud department” is asking you to share a code or move money to a “safe” account.
• A government office like Social Security, Medicare, or the IRS, the Internal Revenue Service, is demanding payment or personal information.
• A utility or law enforcement office is threatening a shutoff or a fine.

The pattern is always the same. A voice you trust, an urgent problem, and a push to act before you can check.

These calls work on emotion. When someone sounds hurt, scared, or official, we want to help or do what’s right. Even careful people get pulled in.

The habit that helps most

You don’t have to become an expert at spotting fake voices. Most people can’t tell the difference. The habit that protects you doesn’t depend on your ear.

The habit: hang up, then reach the person or office yourself using a number you already have, not the number on Caller ID.

Call your family member at the number you have saved. Call your bank at the number on your bank card. Call the government office using the number on its official website or on your paperwork.

Scammers rely on urgency. They need you to stay on the phone until the problem is ‘resolved.’ A real emergency will still be there in 5 minutes. A scam will not survive a family word, hanging up, or you calling back with the phone number you know is right.

Real institutions expect you to verify. The SSA, the Social Security Administration, says it won’t threaten arrest or demand payment by gift card. Medicare won’t call out of the blue for your Medicare number. The IRS doesn’t demand immediate phone payment. A caller who won’t let you hang up and call back is telling you something. They are trying to scam you.

Set up a family code word

Create a code word or phrase only your family knows. If a caller claims to be a family member in trouble, ask for the word. The real person will know it. A copied voice won’t.

• Pick a phrase that’s easy to remember but hard to guess. Skip birthdays and pet names. A random pair like “purple tractor” works well.
• Share it in person or on a call you started, not by text or email.
• Keep it to close family.
• Practice once, out loud: “If I ever call in a panic, ask me the word.”

It takes 5 minutes and gives everyone a shared plan.

A calm checklist to keep by the phone

• Pause. Take a breath. Urgency is the scammer’s tool, not yours.
• Ask for the code word.
• Hang up and call back on a number you already have.
• Check with someone else before sending money or sharing information.
• Watch the payment method. Gift cards, wire transfers, and digital currency are common in these scams.

For care partners

This is a family need, not just for the care recipient. Talk about how AI can be scamming people, “I read about a new phone trick that’s fooling sharp people. Can we set up a code word so we’re both covered?” If they bristle at feeling managed, lead with your own situation: “I set one up with the kids and wanted one with you too.”

The goal isn’t to manage someone’s calls. It’s to share a plan, so everyone feels safe. And agree that either of you can call to double-check anything, anytime, with no embarrassment.

If it already happened

These scams are built to work on good, caring instincts. Contact your bank right away, since some transactions can be reversed if you act soon. Bank staff are also trained to recognize if someone is being scammed. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or to the FBI’s IC3, the Internet Crime Complaint Center, at ic3.gov. Tell your family so the next person stays a step ahead.

The bottom line

The technology is new, but the defense is old and familiar. Slow down. Verify with someone you trust. The same habit works for urgent emails and texts. Keep a shared plan today to make hard moments easier tomorrow.

Sources

• FTC, the Federal Trade Commission, 2023 consumer alert on AI and family-emergency scams
• FBI, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, IC3, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov)
• SSA, the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General scam guidance https://oig.ssa.gov/scam-awareness/report-the-scam/
• Medicare (medicare.gov) fraud-prevention guidance; IRS, the Internal Revenue Service, phone scam guidance.