Scammers are making billions of dollars by tricking people into parting with their cash, and the methods they use are becoming increasingly sophisticated. With the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), scammers can now create deepfake videos impersonating people and clone voices with just a few seconds of audio.
To combat these AI-driven scams, experts recommend that families create secret passphrases or passwords to verify each other’s identities. This simple yet effective approach can help victims quickly identify whether an interaction is legitimate or not.
“When scammers use manipulation tactics to put the victim in a vulnerable state, having a passphrase or prepared strategy enables victims to take control,” says Erin Englund, director of threat analytics at BioCatch. “A good family passphrase should be unique, easy to remember, and ideally shared with friends and family in person.”
Rachel Tobac, CEO of SocialProof Security, warns that companies are already being targeted by AI voice-cloned calls that try to impersonate business executives or loved ones in distress.
“When creating a secret passphrase, avoid using easily guessable information like street names, birthdays, or pets,” Englund advises. “Consider anything you post online as data available to scammers.”
Tobac recommends sharing hypothetical examples of passphrases, such as “cheese puffs” or “rainbows and dragons,” and emphasizes the importance of keeping family passwords private.
While family passwords can be useful, experts acknowledge their potential limitations. “We have to remember how human beings actually act in an emergency,” Tobac says. If someone has been in a car accident, for example, adrenaline may kick in and they may not recall a passphrase.
To stay safe, it’s essential to be aware of the risks and take steps to verify the identity of the person contacting you. “If you receive a call from a loved one who seems distressed, try verifying their identity by texting them a word or using another method,” Tobac recommends.
Source: https://www.wired.com/story/you-need-to-create-a-secret-passphrase-with-your-family