| 'Voice Clone' Technology Used to Carry Out Virtual Kidnapping Scams Recent reports have revealed that cybercriminals are increasingly using sophisticated voice cloning technology to carry out virtual kidnapping scams. Virtual kidnapping is a scam whereby criminals use phone calls, emails, or text messages to intimidate victims into paying a ransom or other demands. They often use personal info about the victim to make their threats credible. According to cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, voice clone technology has become a popular tool for criminals looking to commit virtual kidnapping scams. The technology involves recording someone's voice and using deep learning algorithms to create an audio version of that person or to imitate their voice. This allows the criminal to send convincing messages to their victims as if they are talking to them directly. Criminals are also using the same technology to create audio versions of people's friends or family members in order to intimidate them and demand money. By having an audio version of a friend or family member, criminals can impersonate them and get victims to comply with their demands. To protect themselves, Trend Micro recommends that people be aware of the signs of virtual kidnapping scams and avoid responding to any suspicious messages. They should also be wary of anyone asking for personal or financial information such as phone numbers, addresses, or credit card numbers. People also need to be careful of any calls or messages from unknown numbers. Finally, people should never agree to pay a ransom if they receive such a message, as this only encourages the criminals. |