| Scammer Uses "Voice Clone" of Victim to Commit Fraud Bob Sullivan was shocked to discover that someone had created a "voice clone" of his own voice without his knowledge. However, the surprise turned out to be a pleasant one when Sullivan found out that the impersonator had actually asked for his permission before creating the deepfake. Sullivan had been made aware of a scam in which someone had recorded a message in his voice and used it to solicit money from people. After being tipped off by a friend, Sullivan decided to investigate and was surprised to find out that the voice was a perfect match of his own. Upon further investigation, Sullivan discovered that the culprit had actually asked for his permission to clone his voice before using it in the scam. The person who had requested the clone had claimed to be a voice actor working for a company that needed the clone for a project. Sullivan, in a generous gesture, decided to let the person use the clone under the condition that the clone would not be used for fraudulent purposes. The incident serves as a cautionary tale for those who give away their permission to clone their voice. Cloning a voice can be used for a variety of purposes, but it is important to make sure it is not used for anyone's gain without the original owner's knowledge or consent. Sullivan has a strong message for those who might be tempted to exploit voice clones: "It's important to protect your voice and to make sure that you know exactly who is using it and why." |