Protect Your Family from AI Voice Cloning Scams - ESI IT Services

We Care About People, Not Just Businesses

At ESI, we’re not just your IT support provider — we’re part of the Macarthur community. While we spend our days securing businesses, we also believe in helping protect the people behind those businesses: you, your family, and your loved ones.

Today, we need to talk about something serious that’s happening right now across Australia.

The New Threat: AI Voice Cloning Scams

Criminals are using artificial intelligence to clone voices from short audio clips found on social media, voicemail greetings, or public videos. They then call family members pretending to be you (or your children, parents, or spouse) in a fake emergency, asking for urgent money transfers.

It sounds exactly like them. Even their tone, emotion, and speaking style. And it’s terrifyingly convincing.

Real Examples:

A grandmother received a call from her “grandson” crying, saying he’d been arrested and needed bail money immediately
A mother got a panicked call from her “daughter” claiming she’d been in a car accident and needed money for hospital bills
A business owner received a call from their “partner” asking for an urgent wire transfer for a “deal that couldn’t wait”

In each case, the voice was cloned using AI from just seconds of audio scraped from social media or public sources.

How to Protect Your Family

1. Create a Family Code Word

Establish a secret word or phrase that only your immediate family knows. If someone calls claiming to be in an emergency, ask for the code word. Scammers won’t know it.

2. Verify Before You Transfer

If you receive an urgent request for money:

Hang up and call the person back on their known number
Ask questions only they would know the answer to
Contact another family member to verify the story
Never send money before verifying the emergency is real

3. Limit What You Share Online

Be cautious about posting videos with clear audio of you or your children speaking
Review your voicemail greeting — consider a generic message
Check your social media privacy settings

4. Educate Vulnerable Family Members

Grandparents and elderly relatives are often targeted. Make sure they:

Know these scams exist
Understand that voices can be faked
Know to verify before sending money
Have your contact details written down to check with you first

What If You’ve Been Targeted?

If you receive a suspicious call:

Don’t panic — that’s what scammers count on
Don’t send money or gift cards
Hang up and verify through another channel
Report it to Scamwatch
Warn your family and friends