SA residents warned over WhatsApp voice notes
Experts have warned users over the use of AI to target people using WhatsApp voice notes.
AI has been the buzzword of 2024, with the rise of artificial intelligence becoming a norm and a part of our daily lives.
Just like its intended use to enhance productivity and efficiency and make life just a little easier, criminals are also using it to make crime more efficient.
As AI evolves, criminals have numerous ways to use it to their advantage and target innocent victims.
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The most recent use of AI by criminals is to clone voices.
Tech experts have recently issued numerous warnings on how criminals are using AI to impersonate individuals.
One specific method is using artificial intelligence to clone voices, specifically through WhatsApp voice notes.
These cloned voices are then manipulated and used to create highly convincing scams targeting businesses and individuals alike.
According to BusinessTech, this trend was first observed globally but has started impacting South Africa as a rising crime trend.
BusinessTech reported on a case of AI voice-cloning highlighted by Stephen Osler, Co-Founder and Business Development Director at Nclose.
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The 2019 case involved criminals using AI-generated voice cloning to impersonate the CEO of an energy company.
This led to a fraudulent transfer of $243,000 (about R4.3-million).
Another case in Hong Kong in 2021 saw criminals using voice cloning to steal $35-million (approximately R631-million).
But if you think criminals are only targeting big corporations, you are mistaken.
Criminals are now using this technology to target individuals as well, and it is proving to be alarmingly efficient in getting the job done.
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Common scenarios, as reported by BusinessTech, include fake kidnapping claims, requests for urgent financial help from family members, and emergency messages, each crafted with chilling authenticity.
Criminals can access someone's voice from social media posts, recorded calls, or even prior voice messages and use it to create realistic, AI-generated audio clips.
This is also true for WhatsApp voice notes.
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