Here's how to tell if you're talking to an AI voice scammer
Did you know that scammers are using AI voice tools to sound more believable and be harder to detect?
With just a short audio sample, certain software can create a convincing imitation of someone's voice, allowing scammers to pose as someone you can trust.
However, Department of Information and Communications Technology Sec. Henry Aguda said that there are a few warning signs to keep in mind when dealing with a suspicious caller.
"Pansinin kung paulit-ulit o sobrang scripted ang sagot. Magtanong ng follow-up na unexpected para makita kung natural ang response," he advised on the agency's "Tanong Mo, Sagot ni Sec A" series.
"Huwag agad magbigay ng personal o sensitive information. Kung may duda, i-end ang call at i-verify ang kausap sa official channel," he added.
Additionally, you must not rush into things when in doubt. It's important to verify before you trust, whether it's a phone call or an online interaction.
The National Privacy Commission previously warned the public about "call bot scams," which use automated systems or AI to make phone calls that sound real. These calls may pretend to be from banks, delivery services, or government agencies and even mimic real people's voices using voice cloning.
"These calls are designed to trick you into giving personal or financial information," they said.
The way the scams work is that you will first receive a call from an unknown or spoofed number before hearing the bot speak. The caller creates urgency, requiring you to provide one-time passwords or verification codes, personal data, and payments or transfers.
The NPC stressed that you must not answer unknown numbers, but in the case that you have answered the call, you must let the caller speak first and avoid saying "yes."
More importantly, never share OTPs, verification codes, or other personal and financial information over the phone. If the caller claims to represent an institution, hang up and contact the organization directly through its official channels to verify the call.
If the call appears suspicious, end it immediately rather than engaging with the caller. You can also report suspected scams to the NPC and other relevant authorities to help prevent others from falling victim.
