All UK families urged to set up ‘safe phrase’ as new type of scam emerges

Families in the UK are being urged to set up a ‘safe phrase’ as a new type of scam involving voice cloning emerges.

Starling Bank is warning households that scammers are using videos and voice recordings on social media to clone people’s voices and create convincing pleas for money which are then set to family members.

New AI technology allows criminals to replicate a person’s voice from just a few seconds of audio, which can easily be taken from a video someone has uploaded online. Scammers can then identify the victim’s family members or close friends and use the cloned voice to stage a phone call, voice message or voicemail to them, usually asking for money.

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Starling found in a recent survey that nearly half of people (46 per cent) do not know this type of scam even exists. One in 12 people said they would send whatever money was requested, even if they thought the call seemed strange.

The bank is now urging people to consider agreeing a ‘safe phrase’ among their close friends and family members, which could help them verify that a caller is genuine if they receive a concerning phone call. However, safe phrases should never be discussed online or via text messages to ensure they don’t get compromised.

Lisa Grahame, chief information security officer at Starling Bank, said: “People regularly post content online which has recordings of their voice, without ever imagining it’s making them more vulnerable to fraudsters.

“Scammers only need three seconds of audio to clone your voice, but it would only take a few minutes with your family and friends to create a safe phrase to thwart them. So it’s more important than ever for people to be aware of these types of scams being perpetuated by fraudsters, and how to protect themselves and their loved ones from falling victim.”

She added: “Simply having a safe phrase in place with trusted friends and family – which you never share digitally – is a quick and easy way to ensure you can verify who is on the other end of the phone.”

Actor James Nesbitt, who is taking part in Starling Bank’s campaign said: “I have children myself, and the thought of them being scammed in this way is really scary. I’ll definitely be setting up a safe phrase with my own family and friends.”

The Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign urges people to pause and take time to think about whether they are being scammed before acting. Calling another trusted friend or family member to ‘sense check’ a request for money could be a good idea.

You could also contact your bank by calling 159 if you feel you need advice. Banks that can be contacted this way include the Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Co-operative Bank, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Lloyds, Metro Bank, Monzo, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Starling Bank, Tide, TSB and Ulster Bank.

If you think you have been scammed, you should contact your bank or payment provider immediately, as well as the police.