Cybercrime has been adapting to new technologies, but continues to exploit mainly moments of distraction and overconfidence. Among the scams that most concern experts are telephone scams, in which criminals pose as trusted entities to obtain personal, banking or even voice recordings. Sometimes a simple trick is enough to cause serious damage to your bank account.
According to the Spanish newspaper, one of the telephone frauds in circulation uses voice cloning to try to supplant the victims’ identities. The technique can be used in attempts to authorize operations, contract services or other fraudulent contacts on behalf of third parties.
The scam usually starts with a seemingly normal call. There may be no response on the other end of the line, or someone may appear presenting themselves as an employee of a well-known company, bank or entity. The goal is to keep the victim on the line long enough to collect short, clear responses.
Words to avoid
According to the same source, expressions such as “Yes”, “OK” and “I Accept” should be avoided in suspicious calls, especially when insistent or very obvious questions arise. The risk highlighted is the possibility of these small snippets being used with artificial intelligence tools to imitate the victim’s voice, although authorities remember that scams often depend on several elements, such as social engineering, personal data and authentication codes.
How you can protect yourself and your bank account
Banco de Portugal warns that, in the face of contacts supposedly made by banks or payment service providers, personal data, access credentials or authentication codes should never be disclosed by telephone, SMS or email. In case of doubt, the recommendation is not to share information and contact the entity directly through official channels.
Confirm the identity of the caller
Another essential measure is to always confirm the identity of whoever is on the other end of the line. INCIBE, a Spanish cybersecurity institute, recommends, cited by El Economista, that, in the event of suspicious calls or unexpected requests, the information be confirmed through another secure contact, block the fraudulent number and never provide personal or banking details.
These simple precautions can make a difference in the face of scams that mix phone calls, psychological pressure and new artificial intelligence tools. Disconnecting a suspicious call, contacting the bank through official channels and reporting the situation to the authorities remains the safest way to avoid losses.
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