Search
July 8, 2025
Facebook Instagram X-twitter Youtube
Logo, The Texas Insider
  • Home
  • Regions
    • Central Region
    • East Region
    • Gulf Coast Region
    • National
    • North Region
    • Panhandle Region
    • Rio Grande Region
    • West Region
    • World
  • Business
  • Insider Reports
  • Health & Fitness
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Texas Family Values
  • Politics
    • Texas Border Crisis
    • Texas Primaries
  • Events
  • Opinion
  • Shows
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
  • Games
  • Home
  • Regions
    • Central Region
    • East Region
    • Gulf Coast Region
    • National
    • North Region
    • Panhandle Region
    • Rio Grande Region
    • West Region
    • World
  • Business
  • Insider Reports
  • Health & Fitness
  • Lifestyle
    • Culture
    • Texas Family Values
  • Politics
    • Texas Border Crisis
    • Texas Primaries
  • Events
  • Opinion
  • Shows
    • Podcasts
    • Videos
  • Games

The Midnight Call That Could Cost You Everything: How AI Just Made the World’s Oldest Scam Terrifyingly New

Voice-cloning technology has transformed a decades-old con into a parent's worst nightmare – but there's a simple defense that scammers hate

Marina Fatina by Marina Fatina
June 27, 2025
in Insider Reports, Technology, Top News
0
The Midnight Call That Could Cost You Everything: How AI Just Made the World’s Oldest Scam Terrifyingly New

Photo by Sanket Graphy / Pexels

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Picture this: It’s 2 AM, you’re dead asleep, and your phone rings. On the other end, someone who sounds exactly like your child is sobbing uncontrollably. Through the tears, they’re telling you they’ve been in an accident, they’re in trouble, and they need money right now or something terrible will happen.

Your heart stops. Your wallet opens. And the scammers win.

The Con That Never Goes Out of Style

Welcome to the “grandparent scam” – or as we should probably call it now, the “AI-powered family emergency scam.” This nightmare scenario has been emptying bank accounts for decades, particularly in countries like Russia where it was perfected into a dark art form.

The original recipe was diabolically simple: Call a family in the middle of the night when they’re groggy and panicked. Use a shaky, crying voice that’s hard to identify. Claim to be their child or grandchild in desperate trouble. Demand immediate money transfer to a “lawyer” or “bail bondsman” who will meet them somewhere nearby. Most importantly, insist there’s no time to verify the story – every second counts!

It worked like a charm because it exploited our deepest parental instincts when our critical thinking was at its lowest ebb. A confused, just-awakened parent hearing what sounded like their child in distress would often hand over thousands without stopping to think, “Wait, let me call my kid to confirm this.”

AI Just Made It Infinitely Worse

Now here’s where it gets truly terrifying: artificial intelligence has turned this old-school scam into a precision weapon. Today’s voice-cloning technology can create a perfect replica of your loved one’s voice from just a few seconds of audio – maybe grabbed from a social media video or voicemail.

The National Cybersecurity Alliance has created an eye-opening interactive challenge called “Safe Word” that demonstrates just how convincing these AI-generated voices can be. Their “Human vs AI” module will make you question everything you thought you knew about identifying real voices.

The Simple Solution Scammers Don’t Want You to Know

But here’s the good news: there’s a surprisingly simple defense against even the most sophisticated AI voice scams, and it’s something families have been using for generations in different contexts.

The safe word.

That’s right – just like families use code words for legitimate emergencies, you can establish a secret word or phrase that only real family members would know. When that panicked midnight call comes in, simply ask for the safe word.

A real family member in genuine trouble? They’ll know it instantly. An AI-powered scammer? They’ll scramble, make excuses, or hang up.

Making Your Family Scam-Proof

Here’s how to set up your family’s defense system:

Choose a memorable safe word that’s meaningful to your family but not something easily guessed or found on social media. Maybe it’s your first pet’s name, a family inside joke, or a word from a shared memory.

Make sure everyone knows it – and knows to use it in any emergency call where money is involved.

Practice the protocol – if someone calls claiming to be family and asking for money, the first question should always be: “What’s our safe word?”

Keep it updated – change the safe word periodically, especially if you’ve had to use it.

The Bottom Line

Technology may have made this ancient scam more convincing, but it hasn’t made it unbeatable. The same human connection that scammers try to exploit – our love for family – is exactly what can protect us.

So before you get that middle-of-the-night call that makes your blood run cold, have the conversation with your family. Set up your safe word. Because in the battle between human hearts and AI trickery, a little preparation can make all the difference.

After all, the best defense against a scam that preys on panic is a plan that works even when you’re not thinking clearly.


Want to test your ability to spot AI voices? Check out the National Cybersecurity Alliance’s “Safe Word” interactive challenge and see if you can tell human from artificial intelligence.

Marina Fatina

Marina Fatina

Part of Texas Epoch Media Group since 2012 . Graduated University of Houston with BA in Broadcast Journalism and now work as a local Houston Reporter and videographer for Texas Insider and NTD.

Related Posts

Your Next Weekend Adventure Is Hiding 20 Minutes from Austin
Insider Reports

Your Next Weekend Adventure Is Hiding 20 Minutes from Austin

July 7, 2025
Texas Lawmakers Approve $300 Million Boost to Film Incentives with SB 22
Insider Reports

Texas Lawmakers Approve $300 Million Boost to Film Incentives with SB 22

July 7, 2025
Texas Governor Makes Global “Most Influential” List — Here’s Why That Matters for You
Insider Reports

Texas Governor Makes Global “Most Influential” List — Here’s Why That Matters for You

July 7, 2025

Latest

  • Your Next Weekend Adventure Is Hiding 20 Minutes from Austin July 7, 2025
  • Texas Lawmakers Approve $300 Million Boost to Film Incentives with SB 22 July 7, 2025
  • Texas Governor Makes Global “Most Influential” List — Here’s Why That Matters for You July 7, 2025
  • Your Teen Could Land a Leadership Role That Opens Doors to College and Career Success July 7, 2025
  • Texas High School Students Can Now Graduate Early and Save Thousands on College July 6, 2025

Trending Now

  • E4 Texas RoundUP: Exclusive Interview: Rob Scott, IT Attorney & Chief Innovator at Monjur

    E4 Texas RoundUP: Exclusive Interview: Rob Scott, IT Attorney & Chief Innovator at Monjur

    262 shares
    Share 105 Tweet 66
  • Texas Dad Advocates for Legal Changes to the Family Court System

    257 shares
    Share 103 Tweet 64
  • Texas Warrior Moms: Perla Muñoz Hopkins

    154 shares
    Share 62 Tweet 39
  • “Memo to Texas Moms: Be the ‘Flashlight’ that protects your children in our world”

    153 shares
    Share 61 Tweet 38
  • E41. Texas RoundUP: Interview With Jim Camp Jr., Owner And Coach At Camp Negotiations

    133 shares
    Share 53 Tweet 33
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Careers
  • Contact

© 2024 All rights Reserved. The Texas Insider.
The Texas Insider is a part of Epoch Media Group.

Facebook Instagram X-twitter Youtube