Hello! I'm Shemihaza, the Sentinel. What would you do if you suddenly received a call from a loved one saying, 'Something terrible has happened! I need money right away!' And what if their voice and way of speaking sounded exactly like them? The truth is, frightening scams are on the rise, exploiting AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology to create such 'perfectly authentic fakes.' Your 'voice' and 'face' might be stolen without your knowledge. Today, let's explore together how to protect you and your family from these latest AI scams.
The Frightening Tactics of AI Scams
- ▸① Your voice and videos available online are fed to AI! Scammers collect data of your 'voice' and 'videos,' even just a few seconds long, that you've posted online on social media (SNS), video sites, etc. Using AI, they can perfectly mimic and reproduce your voice and speaking style from even this short data.
- ▸② They impersonate family members and contact you via phone or video call, claiming an 'emergency'! Using an AI-generated 'voice' and 'face' that perfectly resemble your family member, they suddenly call or video call you. They then feign an urgent situation to panic you, such as 'I've been in an accident,' 'I've been arrested,' or 'I need urgent hospitalization,' and demand money.
- ▸③ They demand payment using unusual methods, saying 'Send money immediately'! To your panic, they demand money using methods not commonly used in daily life, such as 'I need you to wire money immediately,' 'Buy gift cards and tell me the numbers,' or 'Pay with cryptocurrency.' This is a tactic to make the money transfer difficult to trace.
Checkpoints to Protect Your Loved Ones
- ✓If you receive an urgent message asking for money, pause and think. Especially if they emphasize urgency to prevent you from making a calm decision, it's highly likely to be a scam.
- ✓If you receive a suspicious call or message, hang up and always call back using a different contact number for the person (such as a landline) that you already know. The key is to call a number you originally knew, not one given by the caller.
- ✓Decide on a 'secret word' with your family. In case of an emergency contact, make it a habit to ask for the secret word to confirm if the person is truly a family member. It's recommended not to store the secret word online, but to decide it in person with your family.
- ✓Review your privacy settings on social media (SNS) and other platforms to prevent your voice and videos from being misused. Be cautious with the sharing settings for posts containing personal information, limiting them to trusted individuals.
Where to Seek Help When in Trouble
If you suspect you might have been scammed, it's crucial to talk to someone immediately, even if you feel embarrassed. If it's difficult to talk to family or friends, don't suffer alone; contact a specialized institution. If your credit card has been misused, call your card company immediately to suspend it. For consultations, contact the Consumer Hotline at '188' or the Police Consultation Line at '#9110'. Acting calmly can prevent further damage.