Organised criminal groups are deploying artificial intelligence to clone people's voices and establish unauthorised direct debits over the telephone, according to a stark warning from National Trading Standards (NTS). This sophisticated fraud operation appears to be deliberately targeting older and more vulnerable individuals across the United Kingdom.
A Sinister Blend of Old and New Techniques
The scam begins with a seemingly innocuous approach. Fraudsters contact potential victims under the guise of conducting a "lifestyle survey." This initial phone call is a carefully constructed ruse designed to extract sensitive personal, health, and financial information from the target.
Armed with this harvested data, criminals then utilise advanced AI software to create highly convincing voice clones. These synthetic replicas are subsequently used to simulate verbal consent for setting up direct debit payments with banks and other legitimate financial service providers.
Victims Unaware as Payments Are Taken
National Trading Standards has emphasised that victims often remain completely unaware that these fraudulent payments are being deducted from their accounts. The voice clones enable criminals to bypass standard security checks, tricking systems into processing payments without the genuine account holder's knowledge or authorisation.
Louise Baxter, head of the NTS scams team, described the development as deeply disturbing. "What we're seeing is a deeply disturbing combination of old and new: traditional phone scams supported by disturbing new techniques," she stated. "Criminals are using AI not just to deceive victims, but to trick legitimate systems into processing fraudulent payments. This is no longer just a nuisance – it's a co-ordinated, sophisticated operation targeting some of the most situationally vulnerable consumers in society."
Alarming Scale of Scam Communications
Latest figures from NTS reveal the pervasive nature of scam communications. UK adults now receive an average of seven scam calls or text messages every month. Approximately one in five people (21%) report receiving such communications on most days, with 9% experiencing them daily.
In a significant enforcement effort over a recent six-month period, National Trading Standards successfully blocked almost 21 million scam phone calls and shut down 2,000 fraudulent telephone numbers used by these criminal networks.
Experts Urge Public Vigilance
John Herriman, chief executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), highlighted the rapid evolution of criminal tactics. "This alarming new twist in phone-based fraud shows just how quickly criminals are exploiting emerging technologies to prey on the public," he warned. "Voice cloning takes scam calls to a sinister new level, making it even harder for legitimate businesses and consumers to distinguish real interactions from fraudulent ones."
Consumer advocacy group Which? echoed these concerns. Lisa Webb, Which?'s consumer law spokeswoman, advised: "You shouldn't have to worry about your own voice being used against you in this way but sadly we've reached a stage where every phone call must be treated with suspicion. If you get any calls out of the blue, don't be afraid to hang up; genuine callers won't mind."
Protective Measures and Reporting
Authorities and consumer groups are urging the public to adopt several protective measures:
- Regularly check bank statements for any unrecognised direct debits or transactions.
- Immediately contact your bank using the official number on the back of your card if you spot any suspicious activity.
- Report all suspected scams to the appropriate authorities, such as Police Scotland or the national Report Fraud service.
- Register with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) to opt out of unsolicited marketing calls, making unexpected sales calls more identifiable as potential scams.
- Discuss scam risks with friends and family, particularly older relatives who may be targeted.
Ms. Baxter from NTS concluded with a firm reminder: "We urge everyone to speak to friends and relatives about scam calls, check bank statements regularly and report anything suspicious." Trading Standards teams across the UK continue to work tirelessly to disrupt these sophisticated criminal operations, but public awareness and vigilance remain crucial first lines of defence.
