Karl-Josef Hahner of the “Weißer Ring” warns about the new level of “Enkeltrick” scams leveraging AI to clone voices of family members to deceive primarily seniors. Just recently a senior couple in Germany lost 80.000€ with this new type of “Enkeltrick”.
How It Works:
- Deepfake Technology: Scammers use sophisticated AI to mimic the voices and images of loved ones, creating realistic audio and video calls.
- Emotional Manipulation: They often create scenarios of urgent distress, such as a family member in trouble, to provoke a quick emotional response.
- Request for Money: Under the guise of emergency, scammers ask for immediate financial help, typically requesting wire transfers or payment apps.
Why You Need to Stay Calm:
- Scammers rely on their ability to shock and confuse. Remaining calm helps you think clearly and make rational decisions rather than acting out of fear or urgency.
Solution: Establish a Codeword
- Agree on a unique codeword with close relatives and friends, which can be used to verify identity in unexpected situations.
- If someone claiming to be a family member contacts you asking for help, ask for the codeword. If they fail to provide it, hang up and contact the person they’re impersonating through a known and trusted method.
Additional Tips:
- Regularly update your codeword and keep it confidential.
- Educate your family, especially elderly relatives, about this threat and discuss how to handle such situations.
- Consider using secondary verification questions that only your real relatives would know. (This also works in business by asking questions about a recent meeting in the days before!)
Staying informed and prepared is your best defense against these emotionally charged scams. Protect yourself and your loved ones by establishing security practices that keep scammers at bay. #CyberSecurity #DeepfakeScams #FamilySafety