Scammers now use AI to clone voices and sound more convincing. Here's what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission says to watch for, and a simple check-before-you-pay habit for your team.
What would you do if a call sounded exactly like your boss, or a family member, asking for money right now? AI makes that kind of scam easier. Here's what the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says, from its consumer pages checked on Oct 28, 2026.
What the FTC says scammers do:
- Clone voices: the FTC says a scammer could use a short audio clip, maybe from content posted online, and a voice-cloning program to sound just like someone you know.
- Sound like the boss: the FTC notes that if a call sounds like your boss asking for bank account numbers, you're more likely to act, which is why scammers use voice cloning.
- Push hard: the FTC says these scams claim it's urgent, that you're the only one who can help, and sometimes that you must keep it secret.
- Ask for hard-to-recover payments: like wiring money, sending cryptocurrency, using a payment app, or buying gift cards and sharing the numbers.
What the FTC says to do:
- Don't trust the voice: hang up, or say you'll call right back.
- Verify: call the person on a phone number you know is theirs.
- Ask someone else: check with another trusted person, even if the caller said to keep it secret.
- Report it: the FTC says to report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
A simple habit for your team (our suggestion): no money moves, and no account details are shared, on the strength of one call, text, or email alone. Always confirm through a second, known channel.
The same goes for AI agents. If you use an AI agent that can send or pay, keep approvals on. See our guide to keeping your business safe with AI agents.
Sources
Where each fact came from
- Overview · checked Oct 28, 2026 · rechecked now and then — Scammers Use Fake Emergencies To Steal Your Money