In an increasingly connected world, technological advances continue to surprise us, sometimes to the detriment of our security. The latest warning issued by Fatshimetrie highlights a growing threat: the use of artificial intelligence to clone voices and defraud individuals.
It is now possible for fraudsters to recreate a person’s voice from just three seconds of audio, as Fatshimetrie has highlighted. This worrying development allows scammers to impersonate loved ones and ask for money over the phone. This type of scam, using AI-cloned voices, has already affected hundreds of people and could, according to Fatshimetrie, trap millions more if preventative measures are not taken.
The survey conducted by Fatshimetrie in collaboration with Mortar Research reveals that more than a quarter of respondents have been targeted by a voice cloning scam in the last few months. Alarmingly, 46% of respondents were not even aware that such scams exist. Furthermore, 8% of respondents admit that they might be likely to send money to a loved one, even if the call seems strange.
Technology is advancing at a rapid pace, offering unimaginable possibilities, but also new security challenges. To counter these scams, Fatshimetrie recommends that individuals establish a “secure phrase” with their loved ones, a simple, unique code that verifies identity during a phone call. It is crucial not to share this phrase via text message, to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands.
As AI becomes increasingly adept at imitating human voices, fears about its malicious use continue to grow. Last year, OpenAI unveiled its voice replication tool, Voice Engine, but chose not to make it public due to the risks of manipulating synthetic voices.
It is essential to raise awareness of these new threats and take precautionary measures to protect against scams. In this digital age, vigilance and caution are the keys to safely navigating a world where technology can sometimes turn against us.