Coachella Valley seniors target for AI voice clone scams
PALM DESERT, Calif. (KESQ) - Senior citizens in the Coachella Valley say they've been getting calls that sound like loved ones in distress, asking for money. Artificial intelligence is being used by scammers to clone people's voices, and according to the University of Chicago, 91% of people can't tell the difference between a real voice and an AI clone.
Joel Johnson was the target for an AI scam. He got a call a few weeks ago, from a voice he thought was his son.
"I broke my nose. I caused a horrible accident that I need help," the voice over the phone said. Then, Johnson was told to call an attorney. The attorney told him to send $10,000 for bail for his son.
Luckily, Johnson had his wife call their son. Turns out, he was completely okay.
"It's scary that something like this could be done in this manner and Lord knows how many other things it's being used for in a criminal method," Johnson said. Johnson has spent his career as a consumer fraud attorney. He's worked on thousands of cases of people being taken advantage of.
Sat Singh, a strategic advisor for AI Coachella Valley shared some tips on how to protect yourself from AI voice clone scams.
- Create a secret code with your family. Do not share the code over text or any online platform. If you ever receive a suspicious call, the secret code will help you verify the caller's identity.
- Call the actual phone number of the loved one the voice on the phone claims to be.
- If they ask for money through wire transfer or gift card, hang up. It's likely a love one wouldn't ask for financial assistance through this method.
AI Coachella Valley hosts workshops for people of all ages to learn how to navigate AI. You can learn more on their website.
