The phone rings, and a familiar voice is on the other end—your daughter, your grandson, someone you love. They’re crying, panicked, explaining they’ve been in an accident and desperately need money right now. Your heart races. Without thinking twice, you rush to help.
But the voice isn’t real. It’s been cloned by artificial intelligence, and you’re about to become the victim of one of the fastest-growing scams targeting older Americans.
The Growing Threat
In 2024, Americans over age 60 lost nearly $4.9 billion to cybercrime, a 43% increase from the previous year. AI voice cloning represents a disturbing evolution in elder fraud. Using just a few seconds of audio from social media videos or voicemails, scammers can now replicate your loved one’s voice with chilling accuracy.
The most common version is an updated “grandparent scam.” A caller claims to be a family member who has been arrested or in an accident, requiring immediate cash. In a recent Florida case, a mother sent $15,000 after receiving a call from someone using her daughter’s cloned voice. Only later did she discover her daughter was safe and had never made the call.
Why Seniors Are Vulnerable
The emotional nature of these calls—involving a loved one claiming to be in danger—triggers immediate panic that overrides careful thinking. Many seniors are unfamiliar with AI technology and may not realize voices can be convincingly replicated. Scammers exploit this trust, using publicly available information to make their stories more believable.
How to Protect Yourself
Establish a Family Code Word. Create a unique safe word that only your family knows—not something found online like street names or pet names. If someone claims to be family in an emergency, ask for the code word first.
Verify Before You Act. Hang up and call your family member directly using a saved number. Don’t use any number the caller provides. A genuine emergency will still be an emergency five minutes from now.
Be Skeptical of Urgency. Scammers create panic and pressure. Any caller insisting you send money immediately, can’t tell anyone else, or must use gift cards or wire transfers is likely a scammer.
Ask Personal Questions. If someone claims to be family, ask specific details only the real person would know—childhood memories, inside jokes, or recent private conversations.
Limit Your Digital Footprint. Set social media profiles to private. The less audio and video scammers can access, the harder it is to clone voices.
Never Share Sensitive Information. Don’t provide account numbers, Social Security numbers, or passwords to unexpected callers. Legitimate organizations will let you call them back at a verified number.
If You’ve Been Targeted
If you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer, hang up immediately and contact the family member directly using a known number. If you’ve already sent money, contact your bank immediately—transactions can sometimes be stopped if caught quickly.
Report the incident to local law enforcement and file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. Alert other family members so they’re aware of the threat.
Legal Protections and Help
The FCC has ruled that AI-generated voice calls are illegal robocalls under federal law. Many states have additional consumer protection laws. As elder law attorneys, we can help you understand your legal options, assist with reporting, and work to protect your assets from further exploitation.
Don’t let embarrassment keep you from seeking help—these scams can fool anyone. If you have concerns about elder fraud or want to discuss protective legal strategies, contact our office to schedule a consultation.
Additional Resources:
• Federal Trade Commission – Elder Fraud Resources
• National Council on Aging – Scam PreventionT
his blog post is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.