Deepfake Phone Call Scams: The Threat and What You Can Do

Author: Mikalee Williams

Deepfake technology has been a growing concern over the past few years, with individuals using it to spread disinformation and misinformation on social media platforms. Now, there is a new use for deepfakes that is even more concerning – deepfake phone calls. This technology is so advanced that it can create a lifelike avatar that can convincingly have a phone conversation with you.

Imagine receiving a phone call from a loved one who is in desperate need of money. The voice on the other end sounds just like your loved one and the caller ID shows their number. However, something seems off about their answers and there is a peculiar delay in their responses. You may chalk it up to their panic and send the money, only to find out later that it was a deepfake phone call and you have been scammed.

As computer security researchers have pointed out, advancements in deep-learning algorithms, audio editing and engineering, and synthetic voice generation have made it increasingly possible to convincingly simulate a person's voice. To make matters worse, chatbots like ChatGPT are now generating realistic scripts with adaptive real-time responses, making deepfakes even more convincing.

The implications of this technology are alarming. It opens up a new avenue for scammers to target individuals and extract money from them. It also raises questions about the validity of phone calls as a means of communication. How can we be sure that the person on the other end of the line is who they say they are?

As individuals, we can protect ourselves by being aware of the possibility of deepfake phone calls and verifying information through other means before sending money or sensitive information. As a society, we must work towards developing countermeasures and regulations to prevent the malicious use of this technology. The consequences of not doing so could be devastating.

The most common form of voice deepfakes are voice phishing or "vishing" scams that can occur in both professional and personal settings. In 2019, an energy firm lost $243,000 to scammers who used a simulated voice of the boss of their parent company to instruct an employee to transfer funds to a supplier. In 2022, voice deepfake scams, including the use of simulated voices of close personal connections, resulted in an estimated $11 million in losses.

I would not just tell you about a threatening scam and not give you some solutions. Here is some ideas to consider:

Be cautious of unexpected calls, even from known individuals, and to confirm their identity through other means such as calling the bank directly instead of relying on caller ID. Personal information should also be kept private as scammers can use it to impersonate individuals and cause harm. Additionally, it is important to know one's biases and vulnerabilities to avoid being manipulated, as scammers often prey on financial anxieties and political beliefs. The article also suggests being alert to disinformation using voice deepfakes and to be wary of messages that exploit confirmation bias.

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