During our recent Safer Internet Focus Week we tested out our student, staff and parents with a phishing scam and in all groups there were people who fell for it. This was very much a lesson in reminding everyone that attractive offers are not always from your friendly, neighbourhood school, but can all too often be from criminals seeking to get hold of your personal data.

One of the latest AI scams is the growing increase of voice scams.

Just a few seconds of audio is enough to simulate the voice of a loved-one. Videos shared on social media are being used to generate AI voices and then trick individuals into sharing personal information. Only a few seconds of audio is enough to simulate a voice.

The basic concept of a voice-clone scam is similar to standard phone scams: cybercriminals impersonate someone to gain a victim’s trust, then create a sense of urgency which encourages them to disclose sensitive information or transfer money to the fraudster. A common scam technique is to imitate a family member requesting money in an emergency.

Voice clone scams are particularly disturbing as criminals can use code allowing them to target more people more quickly. Additionally, they are able to imitate authorities and celebrities, but also more worryingly, people known directly to the victim.

So how can you stay safe and avoid falling victim to a AI scam like this ? Well, there are key steps to take:

1. Agree a safe phrase with friends and family.
2. Ask the caller to confirm some recent private information.
3. Listen for uneven stresses on words or emotionless talk.
4. Hang up and call the person back.
5. Be wary of any unusual requests for personal data or money transfers.

Lottie Hearn, Deputy Headteacher, said: “Our school has an important role in preparing our students for the world they grow into and dealing with cybersecurity is a key part of that. This is not a threat we were familiar with in our youth, but as criminals become ever more sophisticated in their activities, we need to make sure that our students stay one step ahead of them. Equally, we share information like this so parents can do their bit in helping their children stay safe in the world around them.”