Voice Cloning Fraud Alert: Recognize the Scam and Safeguard Your Money

Voice cloning fraud is a new cybercrime where artificial intelligence is used to replicate a person's voice. Scammers can generate speech that sounds nearly identical to someone you know using just a short audio clip. This type of fraud targets the trust you have for familiar voices. To carry out the scam, the fraudsters follow a series of steps designed to create panic and bypass rational thinking.

Once they have cloned your voice, they call your family, friends, or colleagues and demand immediate payment by UPI, QR code, or wallet transfer. The funds are often difficult to recover as they are routed through multiple accounts. To protect yourself, set up a family code word with close relatives, verify any panic call by calling the person back on their saved number, limit your voice footprint online, and never pay under pressure. Report any suspicious activity to the Cyber Crime Portal or the Cyber Crime Helpline.