As synthetic AI-generated voice scams surge worldwide, experts recommend families adopt secret code words and rehearse emergency plans to prevent financial exploitation and identity theft.
As generative AI becomes more convincing, experts say one of the simplest defences against voice fraud may be old-fashioned: a family code word. The warning comes amid a sharp rise in scams that use synthetic audio to imitate relatives, friends or trusted contacts and push victims into making hurried payments.
The threat is not theoretical. The BBC reported the case of Elizabeth Benz in New York, who was told by what she believed was her 16-year-old son that he was in danger and that a friend had died. A man then demanded $7,500, prompting her to drive to make the payment before another son reached the boy directly and found him safe at a football match. The voice on the call had been generated by AI.
Hany Farid, a computer science and digital forensics expert, has warned that deepfakes are now realistic enough to overwhelm instinct. His advice is to agree a secret word, or even an inside joke, that only close family members know. If someone calls in a panic and asks for money, that word should be used to confirm identity before any action is taken. But as the Benz case shows, having a code word is not enough if panic sets in. Farid and other safety advocates say families should rehearse the plan regularly so it becomes automatic in a crisis.
The scale of the problem is growing quickly. TechRadar reported that a 2026 survey by Hiya found one in four Americans had received at least one deepfake voice call in the previous 12 months, while many more were unsure they could reliably detect a fake. In Hong Kong, police have warned after a man reportedly lost HK$10 million, or about $1.27 million, in a WhatsApp scam that used AI voice notes to impersonate his father. Across the broader fraud landscape, Malwarebytes cited figures showing Americans lost nearly $900 million to AI-powered scams in 2025, while contact-centre fraud detection firm Pindrop said synthetic voice attacks are surging across industries such as banking, retail and insurance.
Experts say the warning signs are familiar: urgency, pressure to keep the call private and demands for hard-to-trace payments such as cryptocurrency, gift cards or cash. They also recommend calling the person back on a known number, turning on two-factor authentication and checking connected devices for suspicious activity. But the clearest message is that families should talk about the risk before a scam happens, not after.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to inform and educate, not to recommend or endorse any financial product, investment or strategy. Please consider your own financial circumstances and seek professional advice where appropriate before making financial decisions.
