The "family emergency" call: how AI copies voices

The short answer

Scammers can now use AI to copy the voice of someone you love, then call you with a fake emergency and ask for money, fast. Your best protection is simple: hang up and call them back on a number you know, and agree on a family safe word before anything happens.

How the scam works

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that a scammer needs only a short audio clip of your family member’s voice, which they can find in videos posted online, plus a voice-cloning program. ^[1]

1Scammer finds a short clip of a voice online

2AI copies the voice

3A panicked "emergency" call

4A demand for fast, hard-to-trace money

The story is usually frightening: a car accident, an arrest, being stuck abroad, or even a kidnapping. Sometimes a second person joins the call pretending to be a police officer or lawyer.

The warning signs

According to the FTC and FBI, watch for:

• Pressure to act right now. “There’s no time, please hurry!”
• Secrecy. “Don’t tell Mom and Dad.” This stops you from checking with others.
• Unusual payment requests: wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency or payment apps. These are hard to get back once sent. ^[2]
• Someone claiming authority, like a “police officer” or “lawyer” taking over the call. ^[2]
• Something slightly off in the tone or choice of words, even if the voice sounds right. ^[3]

What to do if you get a call like this

1. Pause. Scammers rely on panic. Taking one minute to check is always okay.
2. Hang up and call the person directly, using a number you already know is theirs, not one the caller gives you. ^[1]
3. Call another family member to check the story.
4. Ask for your family safe word (see below). A scammer won’t know it.
5. Never send money by gift card, wire transfer, crypto or payment app to someone who calls you asking for it.

Set up a family safe word today

The FBI recommends that families create a secret word or phrase to confirm who they’re really talking to. ^[3] Here’s how:

• Pick a word or short phrase that isn’t anywhere online. Avoid pets’ names, birthdays or anything you’ve posted about.
• Agree on it in person or in a private call, not in a group chat.
• Use it whenever someone calls in an “emergency” asking for money or help. No word, no money.

The FBI also suggests making social media accounts private, so fewer strangers can find videos of your family’s voices. ^[3]

Some phones can help

Google’s Phone by Google app has a Scam Detection feature that uses on-device AI to warn you during a call if it hears patterns typical of scammers. ^[4][5] Right now it’s only on Google Pixel phones: Pixel 6 and later in the US, and Pixel 9 and later in some other countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia and India. It’s off by default: turn it on in the Phone app under More, then Settings, then Scam Detection. ^[5]

Google itself says it can’t catch every scam call. ^[5] Your safe word and a call-back work on every phone.

If you think you’ve already been scammed, go to Think you’ve been scammed? Your first hour. In the US, you can also report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.