A robocall purportedly from President Joe Biden advised New Hampshire voters against participating in the upcoming presidential primary, hinting at potential future AI voice scams during this election cycle.
Adrianus Warmenhoven, a cybersecurity expert at NordVPN, highlighted the likelihood of foreign nation states utilizing similar tactics akin to existing trolling farms, considering it as another tool in their arsenal.
The deceptive robocall, mimicking President Biden’s voice, urged recipients to withhold their votes for the November election, steering them away from the state’s initial presidential primary where voters select their preferred candidate for the general election.
Following numerous complaints, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office initiated an investigation into these robocalls, suspecting them to be artificially generated to disrupt the primary election and suppress voter turnout.
The rise of AI technology capable of replicating voices has facilitated the proliferation of such fraudulent schemes, extending beyond impersonations of prominent personalities to targeting unsuspecting individuals.
In a similar vein, the Federal Trade Commission cautioned the public about scammers leveraging AI to replicate a family member’s voice, persuading victims to transfer money under false pretenses.
Tips to Safeguard Against AI Voice Scams
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Verification and Fact-Checking: Double-check the information received during suspicious calls, especially in scenarios like the Biden-related scam. Cross-referencing details online can help confirm the authenticity of the communication.
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Prompt Disconnection: When confronted with dubious calls requesting urgent action or financial assistance, it’s advisable to terminate the call. Subsequently, reach out directly to the purported individual or organization using verified contact information to validate the situation.
Scammers exploiting AI technology can swiftly replicate voices with minimal audio samples, emphasizing the need for vigilance and proactive measures to prevent falling victim to such deceptive practices.
