AI can 'mimic voices' of loved ones – it’s being used as a scam, FCC warns

'Often the imposter claims to have been in an accident or arrested. The scammer may ask the grandparent ‘please don’t let mom and dad know,’ and may hand the phone over to someone posing as a lawyer seeking immediate payment,' the FCC said. — Image by rawpixel.com on Freepik

People are getting phone calls that say they’re from a family member. It even sounds like them. But the Federal Communications Commission is warning it could be a scam.

“Unfortunately, bad actors can now use artificial intelligence technology ‘to mimic voices, convincing people, often the elderly, that their loved ones are in distress,’ according to a recent Washington Post article,” the FCC said in a statement.