The FBI has issued a nationwide alert for iPhone and Android users, warning of a new wave of AI-generated scams that use fake texts and cloned voices to steal personal and financial information. The scam campaign involves messages and voice calls that appear to come from trusted sources—such as government officials or even close relatives—but are in fact crafted using advanced artificial intelligence.
According to the FBI, the AI tools are being used to mimic human speech and writing patterns with increasing accuracy. These impersonation attempts often include urgent or emotional language, links to malicious websites, or requests for sensitive data like login credentials and banking details.
AI voice cloning poses growing social engineering risk
The agency highlighted that cloned voices are now a major part of social engineering attacks, where scammers use familiar voices to deceive victims. The tactic has been previously flagged by the FBI in alerts dating back to December 2024. Fraudsters have reportedly used AI-generated audio to impersonate family members during emergency calls, making the scams particularly convincing.
Also read: Kaspersky Flags 11.6M Offline Threats in Q1
It is now more difficult than ever to distinguish between real and AI-generated communications, especially during phone calls or voice messages. These messages may include subtle red flags such as awkward phrasing, robotic tone, or unexpected background noise.
FBI urges use of encrypted apps and identity codes
To reduce the risk of falling for such scams, the FBI advises users to double-check all suspicious messages through independent channels—such as calling a known number or verifying via an encrypted app. Standard SMS messages between Apple and Android devices are especially vulnerable, as they lack end-to-end encryption.
Users are encouraged to adopt encrypted platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, or Telegram, and to set up shared secret codes with family members for identity confirmation. Multi-factor authentication and avoiding the use of unsecured links are also key practices.
Public urged to report incidents and stay vigilant
The FBI recommends reporting suspicious calls, texts, or emails to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. As AI-based threats continue to evolve, the agency stresses that the best defense is heightened awareness and proactive digital hygiene.
