How to Stop an AI Voice Scam: Hang Up, Call Back, Use a Code Word

A family of three generations around a dinner table, laughing together as the grandmother writes a secret word on a small slip of paper and folds it, shielding it playfully from view.

The defense against AI voice scams is low-tech. If you receive a call from a family member in distress, hang up. Then call them back on a number you already have saved. That single step breaks almost every voice clone scam in existence. A family code word adds another layer. Agree on a word or phrase with the people closest to you, something that would never appear in a social media post.

If anyone claims to be a family member in an emergency, ask for the code word. A family code word can add another layer of protection, but it should not replace calling the person back using a number you already have. This is the P and U in PAUSE. Pause when something triggers panic. Use a channel you already control to verify.

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