Technology has continued to advance in some amazing ways. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is one of the latest gifts. It can help students or businesses write papers, provide security, automate vehicles, create new medications, etc. It can help us in many ways. It can also aid criminals in operating a new scam.

Remember the phone calls from someone pretending to be your granddaughter or grandson? He would ask for money from his senior mark. Now, when you or your family members answer the phone AI can record and clone the exact voice of the person on the phone. When your elderly parent answers the phone she may hear her granddaughter’s voice asking for money. There is no denying that the caller sounds exactly like the relative. The voice is an AI replica. This is especially difficult for seniors with memory or dementia concerns, but anyone can fall prey.

There are ways for our vulnerable parents and grandparents to defeat these scammers. Many phone service providers can block all phone numbers except for a few known contacts, like family members, doctors, pharmacies, caregivers, etc. Anyone else who attempts to call the number does not get through. The phone never rings. Another suggestion experts suggest is to have a family password. Remember when your kids were little and you had a safety word if someone other than Mom was picking them up at school? It’s the same idea. If a “relative” calls with an emergency and asks Grandpa for money, Grandpa can ask the caller what the password is. If the caller does not immediately know it, hang up. These instructions can be left on or near the phone. Finally, our recommendation is to make a list of what your older loved one should never say on the phone, no matter what. These are things like bank account numbers, credit card numbers, social security numbers, addresses, etc. Keep this list secured on or near the phone. Callers asking for this kind of information are likely to be scammers and if not, a conversation with a trusted family member and follow-up phone call can verify the need. And never send money to anyone without first talking it over with someone close and trusted.