06/08/2026
No matter which side of the AI debate you're on, Persistent Old Scammers ("POS") absolutely love it! The advances are so great in this area that even a fairly low-level POS can really wreak havoc in your personal and business lives.
A recent one involves users of Microsoft 365. The FBI put out a PSA explaining that AI sends an email that looks legitimate, sends a device code that you input to the legitimate Microsoft verification page, and that's when it bypasses the password and MFA measures, granting the POS full access to the accounts.
Remember the rule, "if you didn't initiate contact, don't click, send, or give out any identifiable information" to any POS asking for it.
But what about when your child calls you, crying because they've been kidnapped or are in trouble, and a POS is demanding immediate payment (or they're in jail and need to make bail, or are at the hospital and need money for medical care, or their car is impounded...etc.)?
Never, you say, I KNOW my child's voice! Well, POS's are now using AI to clone your loved one's voice perfectly (only need 10 seconds of it) and is probably working with another POS who plays the part of the cop/judge/attorney beautifully).
What do you do then? As hard and heartless as it sounds, end that call right away and immediately call your child...text them...look up their location...contact a friend/roommate/fellow traveler...go upstairs and look in their room...verify first.
When it comes to our loved ones, our brains immediately go to "protect" mode and we don't think rationally. The POS knows that. Be ready to be super stressed if you can't immediately verify their whereabouts. Call your spouse, relative or friend so they can help calm you down and at least open the possibility that it could be a POS trying to get you.
Many schools run mock active shooter drills. These drills are meant to give faculty and students the mental ability to somewhat "keep it together" and make correct life-and-death choices if ever faced with that tragic scenario.
We can also plan and practice for traumatic events. Run your own mock scenarios, come up with family words or phrases that alerts the other person that there's a real problem...that they need your help...or maybe that they're fine after experiencing a natural disaster.
Hope you never go through it, but a little planning could save your sanity and your wallet!
A chilling new scam uses AI to clone your child's voice, tricking parents into paying ransom. Here's how the horror unfolds—and how to avoid it.
