With fraudulent cases involving generative artificial intelligence (AI) on the rise, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the USA has recommended that individuals come up with several safety measures, including the use of a secret word that only members of the family know, to protect themselves from fraudsters.
Though AI presents the world with various benefits, its misuse can lead to several negative consequences. Over the past few years, people have been victims of different kinds of cyber fraud including malware fraud and phishing.
Of late, fraudsters have been using AI to clone people’s appearances and voices to create videos and calls that impersonate real individuals, leading to huge financial scams and other crimes. Often, fraudsters mimic a particular family member to convince other family members to disclose sensitive information and make huge money transfers. This not only causes monetary losses, but also creates panic among family members.
According to experts, advancements in technology have blurred the line between reality and AI-generated material, leading to highly believable scams. To deal with this crisis, experts have advised individuals to refrain from sharing personal data with strangers online and be wary of potential fraudulent calls. Additionally, they have suggested that individuals come up with a secret phrase or word that is only known to their family and loved ones. This word will act like a password and will help individuals determine the identity of a caller in case of a fraudulent call.
So, if an individual receives a suspicious call, they can ask for the phrase or word and if the caller is unable to provide it, it could indicate a scam. Experts have recommended that this secret phrase or word be unique and easy for family members to recall, yet difficult for outsiders to guess.
Speak to your family members and create this secret word or phrase today. And remember, this is a secret shared between your family members only. It should not be shared with your best friends, house help or cousins.
REFLECTION: Safety Comes First
What 5 elements should you consider while creating a safe word for your family?
