AI voice cloning scam fraud rises with new phone fraud tactics

Consumers are being urged to treat unexpected phone calls with caution after fraud experts warned that even a seemingly routine survey can be used to build an AI voice clone and empty a victim’s bank account.

How scammers build voice clones

According to Which?, some criminals begin with a call that sounds mundane, often presenting themselves as researchers carrying out a lifestyle questionnaire. The aim, the consumer group says, is not the answers themselves but the fragments of personal data and speech that can be harvested and stitched together into a convincing digital copy of the caller’s voice. That clone can then be passed to other criminal gangs and used to help bypass security checks.

Scale of the problem

National Trading Standards has described the tactic as a new twist on phone fraud and says the scam can lead to unauthorised direct debits being set up in the victim’s name. It has also said it has blocked nearly 21 million scam calls and shut down 2,000 numbers over the past six months, underscoring how persistent the threat has become.

AI fraud on the rise

The warning comes as scams powered by artificial intelligence continue to spread. NatWest said earlier this year that AI-driven fraud, including voice cloning, was among the fastest-growing types of scam in 2024. The bank said 42% of British adults had been targeted by scammers in the previous 12 months, with £570 million reported stolen in the first half of 2024.

How to protect yourself

Experts say the safest response to an unsolicited call is to hang up, particularly if the caller claims to be from a bank or another trusted organisation. Which? also advises people to use call-blocking tools offered by phone providers, and points to settings such as "Filter Spam Calls" on Android and "Silence unknown callers" on iPhone. If there is any doubt about a bank-related call, consumers should end the call and ring back using a verified number, with the 159 service designed to route customers to their genuine bank.

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