A Five-Minute Holiday Conversation That Helps Stop Scams

As wonderful as the holiday season is, it can also bring a surge in financial scams. And with new artificial-intelligence tools that can clone a loved one’s voice from just a few seconds of audio, these scams are becoming far more convincing than ever before.

Here’s the unsettling truth: scammers no longer need a perfect voice match. They just need enough similarity to trigger panic.

AI voice cloning scams usually follow the same script: A “family member” calls in distress. They say they’ve been in an accident. Or arrested. Or they only have one phone call. They need money right now, and they beg you not to tell anyone. In that moment of fear, even the most careful person can react quickly, before verifying what’s really going on. But there’s a simple, powerful way families can protect themselves, and the holidays are the perfect time to set it up.

Why Scammers Are Getting Better at This

Modern AI tools can recreate someone’s voice from as little as three seconds of audio, such as a voicemail greeting, a short video, or even a clip on social media. Because of this, more families are finding themselves targeted. And unfortunately, when these scams succeed, the financial losses can be devastating.

That’s why having a plan in place before something happens is so important.

The “Family Password” Strategy

Cybersecurity professionals and even the FBI now recommend a simple protocol: Create a shared, private family word or phrase.

If a family member calls claiming to be in an emergency and asks for money or sensitive information, you calmly ask for the family password. If the caller can’t provide it, you hang up and call back using a number you know is real. This one small step breaks the emotional urgency these scams rely on and gives you time to verify the situation.

How to Set It Up This Holiday Season

When your loved ones are gathered together, take five minutes to establish:

1. A non-obvious password: Avoid anything public, like pet names, old Facebook posts, or anything someone could easily guess. Inside jokes or made-up words work best.

2. A simple rule: Any urgent request for money, gift cards, wire transfers, or personal information must be verified with the family password first, with no exceptions.

3. A quick practice run: It feels silly, but doing a short, lighthearted “test call” can help everyone feel more confident using the password if a real emergency arises.

Other Ways to Stay Protected

The family password is a great first line of defense, but here are additional steps that can help:

• Call back using a trusted number. Never rely on caller ID; it can be spoofed.
• Ask a personal question only the real person would know if the password is forgotten.
• Limit voice samples online by keeping social media private and using generic voicemail greetings.

The Holiday Gift of Peace of Mind

Scammers thrive on urgency, fear, and confusion. A simple five-minute conversation with your family can take that power away and may help prevent costly mistakes.

If you’d like help reviewing your fraud-prevention strategies or want to discuss additional ways to protect your finances, we’re always here to support you. Please reach out anytime.