How an AI voice cloning scam works
A caller sounds exactly like someone you love and needs money now.
AI voice scams: how they work and how to stop one
An AI voice scam is a call that uses a cloned voice of someone you know to ask for money fast. Agree a family safe word, and if a call feels wrong, hang up and call the person back on a number you already have.
Got a call right now?
- Hang up. It is not rude. A real emergency will still be there in two minutes.
- Call the person back on a number you already have. Not the number that just called you.
- Do not pay by gift card, wire, crypto or cash. The FTC says no real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them.
Which call did you get?
Pick the one that sounds most like what happened. Each page explains how it works and what to do.
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The grandparent scam
A "grandchild" is in jail or hurt and begs you not to tell their parents.
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Family emergency scam
A relative has had an accident abroad and needs a hospital or travel fee paid.
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Virtual kidnapping scam
Someone claims to be holding a family member and demands a ransom.
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CEO voice fraud
Your boss calls asking for an urgent, confidential payment to a new account.
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Bank impersonation call
"Your bank" says your account is at risk and asks you to move money.
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The "can you hear me" scam
A caller tries to record you saying "yes" and then hangs up.
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Calls impersonating officials
A "police officer" or "tax official" says you owe a fine today.
One habit that stops most of these
A family safe word is a private word that only your family knows. A scammer can copy a voice, but not a word that was never said online.
How to set up a family safe word- Pick a word or short phrase. Easy to remember, but nothing that appears on social media, like a pet's name.
- Share it in person. Include grandparents, teenagers and anyone who might be called.
- Agree the rule. Anyone asking for money in an emergency must say the word first.
- Keep it off texts and email. If it is ever shared, pick a new one.
If you already paid or shared details
Act quickly, but you have not run out of options. Start with whichever fits.
Research
About this guide
Written by the VoiceScam.com editors from consumer-protection and law-enforcement guidance. Every number links to its source.
Common questions
Can scammers really clone a voice from a short clip?
Yes. Voice cloning tools can make a convincing copy from a short, clear recording, such as a video posted on social media or a voicemail greeting. The copy does not need to be perfect, because a frightened listener on a bad line rarely notices small flaws. How an AI voice cloning scam works.
How do I know if a call is a voice scam?
Be suspicious of any call that combines an emergency, a demand for secrecy and a request for money paid in an unusual way, such as gift cards, wire transfer, crypto or cash handed to a courier. Hang up and call the person back on a number you already have. How to tell if a voice is AI.
What is a family safe word?
A safe word is a private word or phrase your family agrees on in person. If someone calls claiming to be a relative in trouble, ask for the word. A cloned voice cannot know it. How to set up a family safe word.
Should I stop answering unknown numbers?
You do not have to. It is fine to let unknown numbers go to voicemail, and it is safe to answer as long as you never act on an urgent request during the call. Hang up and check first.
What do I do if I already sent money?
Contact the company you paid through straight away: your bank, the gift card company, the wire service or the crypto exchange. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment, then report the scam to the police and your national fraud reporting service. What to do if you were scammed.
Where do I report a voice scam?
Report it to your local police and to the fraud reporting service in your country. If money moved, tell your bank too. How to report a scam call lists the right places step by step.