LIFE & TRENDS
Protect Yourself From AI
Voice Scams
A secret word, a silent text message, and some deep breathing can shield you. ::
BY JULIE JARGON C
riminals are increasingly using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to
mimic voices of real people and scam their loved ones out of money. Linda Roan, a Colorado
woman, received a frantic call from someone who sounded just like her daughter. An alleged abductor then got on the line and demanded money in return for her daughter’s release. The nightmare only
ended after Roan wired $2,000 and the caller hung up. Roan soon discovered her daughter had been safe at home the whole time. If you get a call like this,
the best thing to do is to hang up and call your loved one right away. Scammers work quickly to create a sense of urgency, often by threatening their victims if they attempt to contact anyone during the call.
WHAT TO DO Lock down your social
media. Scammers can use digital platforms to pick their targets. If your Facebook profile
photo includes you and your children or grandchildren,
68 NEWSMAX MAXLIFE | JULY 2025
scammers know they can gain leverage by posing as one of them. Consider making your always-public profile picture only of yourself. And keep your accounts
and posts private, so strangers can’t learn the names of your children, grandchildren, and other relatives.
Block unknown callers.
If you receive a call from an unknown number, you can let it go to voicemail. Or let tech do that for
you. iPhones have a setting that allows people to silence calls from unknown numbers. Newer Android phones also have spam protection settings. There are also apps that will screen calls. If it’s
actually your doctor’s office or some other important caller, they will leave a message. Create a code word.
Family members should create a unique but easy- to-remember code word that can be used if anyone receives a suspicious call. When your son Bobby
calls and says he needs to be bailed out of jail, ask Bobby for the code word. If he can’t provide it, hang up and call Bobby’s phone.
IF A SCAMMER CALLS Don’t believe caller ID.
Scammers can spoof numbers to make them appear to be from a loved one. They often call from local area codes to make it seem like they are nearby, even when they are in another country. Don’t panic. Scammers
are successful because they induce fear. When our brains are in fight-or-flight mode, we struggle to keep a clear head. Biopsychologist Mary
Poffenroth suggests massaging the curve of your hand between your thumb and forefinger. That
Scammers can spoof numbers to make them appear to be from a loved one.
activates the vagus nerve, she says, which counteracts the panic. Taking deep breaths can also help you think rationally. Text the real person.
If you are on a call with someone who is impersonating your loved one or claims to be holding your loved one hostage, flip to your messaging app and text that person. Roan says she thought
about doing this but was scared that the sound of her tapping would alert the man on the phone. You can turn off audible tapping in your phone’s settings without silencing the ringer or other sounds. You can silence an
iPhone quickly using the control center: just swipe down from the top right. On older phones, there is a physical switch on the left side. On Samsung and Google Pixel phones, you can enable silent mode in the settings. Try someone else. If the
person isn’t texting you back right away, text others who might know where he or she is. Scammers who
impersonate grandchildren often tell the grandparents not to call their parents for fear of getting in trouble. Don’t believe that. If Bobby isn’t responding to your texts, text Bobby’s parents to verify his story. Check your person’s
location. If you track your family member’s location, look at it while you’re on the call. If Bobby says he’s in jail but his location shows him at school, it’s a scam.
LERBANK-BBK22/SHUTTERSTOCK
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