CROOKS are using AI to clone victim’s voices and set up unauthorised direct debits over the phone.
That’s according to a watchdog that says the shocking scheme is part of “an organised criminal operation”.
Many Brits will be familiar with AI in form of helpful chatbots like OpenAI‘s ChatGPT or Google‘s Gemini.
But criminals are taking advantage of AI for an entirely different purpose: raiding your bank account.
That’s according to National Trading Standards, which says that the sickening con begins with a “seemingly harmless lifestyle survey phone call”.
This call is actually designed to gather as much info about you as possible, including details about your personal life, health, and finances.
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“The criminals use this data to develop AI-generated voice clones used to simulate consent for direct debits, deceiving even legitimate businesses and financial providers,” the watchdog explains.
“These details appear then to be passed or sold to other criminal operations who, with the details, can easily circumvent the banks and set up payments without the victim’s knowledge.
“Victims often do not realise payments are being taken.”
Scamming is rife: Brits receive seven scam calls or texts on average every month.
And NTS has blocked nearly 21 million scam calls in six months.
As part of that work, the watchdog has shut down more than 2,000 phone numbers.
To make their scams even more convincing for victims and banks, crooks are turning to AI.
“What we’re seeing is a deeply disturbing combination of old and new: traditional phone scams supported by disturbing new techniques,” said Louse Baxter MBE, who heads up the NTS’ scams team.
“Criminals are using AI not just to deceive victims, but to trick legitimate systems into processing fraudulent payments.
“This is no longer just a nuisance – it’s a coordinated, sophisticated operation targeting some of the most situationally vulnerable consumers in society.
“We urge everyone to speak to friends and relatives about scam calls, check bank statements regularly and report anything suspicious.”
NTS says that Brits are being cold-called and then coerced into providing details to the criminals.
This allowed crooks to take “continuous payments” from the accounts of victims.
And because this happens in the background, it’s possible for victims to not even realise their accounts are quietly being emptied.
STAY SAFE FROM SCAMS – WHICH? ADVICE
Here’s the official Which? response to this scam alert…
“It’s horrifying that criminals are using AI to clone voices in order to set up fraudulent direct debits,” said Lisa Webb, Which? consumer law expert.
“You shouldn’t have to worry about your own voice being used against you in this way but sadly we’ve reached a stage where every phone call must be treated with suspicion.
“If you get any calls out of the blue, don’t be afraid to hang up – genuine callers won’t mind.
“If you see any direct debits or transactions on your bank account that you don’t recognise, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card.
“You should also report any scams to Police Scotland or Report Fraud to investigate.
“It’s also worth making sure you’re registered with the telephone preference service to opt out of unsolicited marketing calls, that way you’ll know that any unexpected marketing or sales calls are either a rogue company or a scammer.”
“This alarming new twist in phone-based fraud shows just how quickly criminals are exploiting emerging technologies to prey on the public,” said John Herriman, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute chief.
“Voice cloning takes scam calls to a sinister new level, making it even harder for legitimate businesses and consumers to distinguish real interactions from fraudulent ones.
“Trading Standards teams across the UK are working tirelessly to disrupt these operations, but we need the public to stay alert, talk to loved ones about the risks, and report anything suspicious.
“Protecting consumers, especially those most vulnerable, requires all of us to stay informed and work together to tackle these modern day and emerging examples of fraud.”
Voice-cloning technology isn’t new – it’s been around for several years.
Tools to clone voices can be accessed cheaply and easily online, making the process relatively straightforward.
An AI tool can capture and replicate your voice with just a few seconds of audio.
STAYING SAFE
We spoke to Louise Baxter from the NTS, who shared advice for Sun readers worried about this kind of con.
“It all starts with one phone call, where you think you’re talking to a real company and they ask for your bank details,” Louise told The Sun.
“So the most important advice is to never give any personal information to anyone who calls you out of the blue and without doing your own checks on who they are, no matter how genuine they sound.
“But the criminals are clever and anyone can be a victim of a scam.
“With the growing use of sophistication and AI in scams, we should all get into the habit of checking our bank statements regularly to make sure we recognise all the payments that are going out.
“We’re also urging people to talk to friends and relatives who may be more vulnerable to scam phone calls, to help them stay safe.”
Louise also recommended visiting their website for advice – http://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk – as well as instructions for downloading the NTS’ new scam-fighting app.
