How to Spot AI Voice Scams (The New Grandparent Scam)

AI voice scams happen when criminals use computer programs to copy a person's voice and call their friends or family asking for money. The voice sounds exactly like your loved one—same tone, same accent—but it is actually a computer generating the words. Understanding how this works is the best way to protect yourself and your savings.

Step 1: Listen for the "Urgency" Scammers rely on panic, not logic. The caller will almost always claim to be in an emergency.

They might say they are in jail, in the hospital, or stuck in a foreign country. They will insist that you must send money right now and that you cannot tell anyone else. If you feel a sudden rush of fear and pressure, take a deep breath. This is the first red flag.

Step 2: Hang Up and Call Back If "your grandson" calls from a strange number claiming he lost his phone, do not trust it immediately.

Hang up the phone. Then, call your grandson on his original number. If he doesn't answer, call his parents. 99% of the time, you will find out he is safe at work or school, and the call was a fake.

Step 3: Establish a "Safe Word" This is a powerful trick from the intelligence community that works for families, too.

Agree on a secret word with your close family members (like "Popcorn" or "Bluebird"). If someone calls claiming to be in trouble, ask: "What is the safe word?" A fake AI voice will not know the answer. If they cannot say it, hang up immediately.