People who get a random phone call asking if they'd like to help with an innocent survey are urged to stay silent and hang up straight away. It comes as a "disturbing" crime has been identified, with people never realising they became victims.
National Trading Standards (NTS) has become aware of an advanced AI phone scam targeting people for something other than bank details. The disturbing crime looks to 'clone' a person's voice as they're completely unaware of what is happening.
In an alert issued by consumer group Which?, people were urged to hang up the phone if they ever received this call. A spokesperson said: "This scam starts with an unexpected call from a fraudster who asks if you'd like to participate in a non-existent 'lifestyle survey' - designed to gather your personal, health and financial details.
"While you answer the questions, this information is used to create AI-generated voice clones. These are then used to set up direct debits, such as payments to banks and other financial providers, without your knowledge."
This dangerous 'cloning' process creates a near-perfect copy of someone's voice. Which? claims that AI tool are "getting better and more convincing" at recreating things like voice tone and accent.
In the past, people have used these kinds of tools to create deepfake celebrity videos and to carry out more targeted scams, such as impersonating a loved one and requesting money for help.
Louise Baxter, head of the NTS scams team, told Which?: "What we're seeing is a deeply disturbing combination of old and new: traditional phone scams supported by disturbing new techniques. 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."
How to avoid becoming a victimScammers will target hundreds of people a day, but it only takes a few unlucky victims to make a scam worth their while. Whilst it may be impossible to avoid getting these cold calls - as criminals tend to build up a large database of potentials to try - there is one guaranteed way to dodge the 'cloning' process.
Quite simply, avoid answering any unknown phone numbers. Make sure older relatives have people saved in a recognisable way on their devices and talk to them about the risks that come from unknown numbers.
Phone companies offer a number of services that can help block unwanted nuisance calls. Some of these services are free but for some, monthly charges can apply, and may vary depending on what package you're signed up to.
If you've lost money or have been contacted by a suspected scammer over the phone, you should report it. The process is quick, free, and could help others avoid becoming victims of crime.
