Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a fraudster’s best friend. Thanks to advances in voice cloning technology, fraudsters can now replicate the voices of loved ones or trusted individuals to deceive victims into giving up money or personal information. In fact, these scams have become incredibly widespread; recent studies show that AI voice scams have impacted one in four adults, causing $2.7 billion in losses worldwide.

Here’s what you should know to protect yourself from AI imposter scams. 

Understanding the threat.

Voice cloning uses AI to mimic a person’s speech based on real voice samples. While AI-generated voices have legitimate uses, such as virtual assistants, these tools also enable scammers to impersonate loved ones or authority figures, tricking victims into providing sensitive information or sending money. These scams often create a false sense of urgency, pressuring victims to act quickly for the fraudster’s personal gain. 

Real-life cases.

To provide some context and insight into how cybercriminals operate, here are two real-world examples of imposter scams using AI.

• In Hong Kong, a finance employee at a multinational company was deceived into transferring $25 million after fraudsters used deepfake technology to impersonate the company’s chief financial officer during a video conference. Shockingly, every person on the call was AI-generated.
• 77-year-old Nikki MacLeod fell victim to an online romance scam involving deepfake voices. Though initially skeptical, she was convinced by what appeared to be genuine video messages from someone she believed to be her real partner. In total, Nikki sent gift cards and PayPal transfers worth £17,000, only to later discover the videos were entirely AI-generated.

How to protect yourself.

Awareness is your strongest defense. Knowing that these types of scams exist and staying alert, especially when asked for money or personal information, is key to protecting yourself. Some warning signs include:

• Unusually quiet or lack of background noise
• Robotic or unnatural speech patterns
• Urgent emotional pleas
• Calls from unfamiliar numbers

Fraudsters often target vulnerable individuals, including young adults and elderly individuals. It’s important to talk with family members about the growing threat of these scams and how to recognize them. As technology evolves, these scams will only become more elaborate and convincing. Staying informed and cautious is your best protection.

For more tips, visit our Fraud Prevention page at efirstbankblog.com.

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Published: June 11, 2025