“Hey John, it's your boss. I need your help. Can you run to the store and buy a few gift cards for me. It’s for the business, I’ll pay you back.”

Imagine getting a call like that from someone who sounds exactly like your boss. Just another task he has asked you to do for the office, right? But what if I told you that call could be from a scammer using deep fake audio technology?

 

How Scammers Use Deep Fake Audio

Scammers are getting smarter and more sophisticated. They can gather audio clips of your loved ones, co-workers or friends from social media, voicemail, or even replies to scam calls. They then use these clips to create an eerily convincing imitation of the person's voice. While these scams can exploit our instincts to help family members in distress, today we’re focusing on how they target professionals by mimicking bosses or CEOs.

 

The Mechanics of an AI Vishing Scam

  1. The Initial Call: The scam kicks off with a call from what sounds like your boss. They might claim that they need you to do a generic task for the office such as purchasing gift cards for clients. The AI-generated voice might sound impatient to ensure that you get the job done as quick as possible.
  2. Raising the Stakes: The scammer amps up, mentioning that a VIP client is coming into town, to pressure you into acting quickly without verifying the details.
  3. Request for Money: They may even ask for more generic gift cards like pre-paid Visa's that can be used anywhere and are less easy to trace. Sometimes, a second call might come in from someone posing as your manager to make the situation seem more legitimate.
  4. Money Collection: In some cases, scammers arrange for an unsuspecting ride-share driver to collect the gift cards, adding another layer of complexity to the scam.

 

Protecting Yourself from AI Vishing Scams

Thankfully, there are several ways to protect yourself and your business from falling victim to these sophisticated scams:

  1. Verify the Call: Always try calling the person back on their known phone number. The scammer might claim they don’t have access to their phone, but it’s worth trying since the real person might pick up and confirm they didn't make the initial call.
  2. Think Critically: Pause and consider whether the person would really ask you to do a task like this. If something feels off, it probably is.
  3. Listen for Inconsistencies: Be on the lookout for unnatural pronunciations, irregular pitch, or lack of background noise—these can all be signs of a deep fake.
  4. Establish a Secret Word: Have a secret word with co-workers. In an emergency, you can ask the caller to say the secret word to verify their identity.
  5. Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest scam techniques and share this information with others. The more people know about these scams, the harder it will be for scammers to succeed.

 

Conclusion

As AI technology advances, spotting deep fake audio scams becomes trickier. However, by staying vigilant and using these protective measures, you can help keep yourself and your business safe. Always take a moment to verify the authenticity of urgent requests and make sure to spread the word about potential threats. The more we all know, the better prepared we’ll be to handle whatever comes our way.

 

If you do not currently have an IT provider or would like a second opinion on your network security, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We are here to serve you in the Niagara Region and Simcoe County, 24/7/365.

Niagara: 905-228-4809

Barrie: 705-885-0993

Email: help@b4networks.ca