New voice cloning technology allows scammers to impersonate anyone
As artificial intelligence technology continues to advance, scammers are finding new ways to exploit it.
Voice cloning has emerged as a particularly dangerous tool, with scammers using it to imitate the voices of people their victims know and trust in order to deceive them into handing over money.
"People will soon be able to use tools like ChatGPT or even Bing and eventually Google, to create voices that sound very much like their voice, use their cadence," said Marie Haynes, an artificial intelligence expert. "And will be very, very difficult to distinguish from an actual real live person."
She warns that voice cloning will be the new tool for scammers who pretend to be someone else.
Carmi Levy, a technology analyst, explains that scammers can even spoof the phone numbers of family and friends, making it look like the call is actually coming from the person they are impersonating.
"Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated tools to convince us that when the phone rings it is in fact coming from that family member or that significant other. That person that we know," he says.
Levy advises people who receive suspicious calls to hang up and call the person they think is calling them directly.
"If you get a call and it sounds just a little bit off, the first thing you should do is say 'Okay, thank you very much for letting me know. I'm going to call my grandson, my granddaughter, whoever it is that you're telling me is in trouble directly.' Then get off the phone and call them," he advises.
Haynes also warns that voice cloning is just the beginning, with AI powerful enough to clone someone's face as well.
"Soon, if I get a FaceTime call, how am I going to know that it's legitimately somebody that I know," she says. "Maybe it's somebody pretending to be that person."
As this technology becomes more widespread, experts are urging people to be vigilant and to verify calls from friends and family before sending any money.
"There are all sorts of tools that can take written word and create a voice out of it," says Haynes. "We are soon going to be finding that scam calls are going to be really, really on the rise."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'My family doctor just fired me': Ontario patients frustrated with de-rostering
Dozens of Ontarians are expressing frustration in the province’s health-care system after their family doctors either dropped them as patients or threatened to after they sought urgent care elsewhere.
Solar storm puts on brilliant light show across the globe, but no serious problems reported
A powerful solar storm put on an amazing skyward light show across the globe overnight but has caused what appeared to be only minor disruptions to the electric power grid, communications and satellite positioning systems.
'It was violent': Police tear down U of A pro-Palestinian encampment Saturday morning
Multiple people at the protest camp torn down at the University of Alberta campus Saturday say police's actions against protesters were "violent" and "disproportionate."
Edibles, armchairs and adapters: Here are the recalls for this week
Health Canada announced various product recalls this week, including electric adapters, armchairs, cannabis edibles and vehicle components.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
Mother's Day movies that pull at ALL the heartstrings
This Mother's Day Weekend, take a look at some of the most emotional movies inspired by moms.
Potentially toxic chemicals hide in our drinking water and countless household objects, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Suspect sought after fatal slashing in downtown Toronto
Police are searching for a suspect in a homicide investigation after a man was slashed in downtown Toronto on Sunday.
Atlanta Hawks win 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, secure No. 1 overall pick
The Atlanta Hawks won the NBA draft lottery on Sunday, landing the No. 1 pick and a potential cornerstone player in a year where there’s no clear-cut choice.