What if someone called your family pretending to be you, using not only your name but also your actual voice?
It may be easier than you think.
An investigation from sister station KMBC 9 put artificial intelligence to the test to see how easily someone could copy a person’s voice and fool someone who knows them.
The results were unsettling.
Using videos that were already posted publicly on YouTube and Facebook, Tenfold Security’s cybersecurity expert Aaron Weissenfluh collected 32 minutes of audio of KMBC 9 reporter Byra Berry speaking.
Weissenfluh then used artificial intelligence voice-cloning software that cost just $11 to create a digital version of her voice.
Some programs are available for free.
Berry didn’t have to sit in a recording studio or read a script. The audio was already online, available for anyone to hear.
Then came the test.
Berry called her cousin using the AI-generated voice to see whether she could tell the difference. She had no idea she was part of an experiment, and she believed she was speaking to Berry.
Although the cousin eventually noticed pauses in the conversation, the voice itself was convincing enough to make her believe Berry was on the other end of the phone.
That raised the question: If the pauses hadn’t been there, how much more convincing could the call have been?
Scammers can use this technology to impersonate someone you love. A familiar voice can create an immediate sense of trust, especially when the caller claims there’s an emergency or asks for money.
How can you protect yourself from voice cloning?
If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to be a family member, especially if they’re asking for money, don’t rely on their voice alone.
Be cautious if the caller pressures you to act immediately or insists that you keep the conversation a secret.
Hang up and call that person using a number you already know. You can also establish a family code word to help verify someone’s identity during an emergency.
Also, use caution when posting videos of yourself online. With so many people sharing videos on social media, scammers may not need much help finding audio to work with.
This experiment showed just how little it can take: publicly available recordings, inexpensive software, and a phone call.
The biggest takeaway from the investigation is simple: Hearing a familiar voice is no longer proof that you’re speaking to the person you think you are.
