Imagine receiving a call from someone you love who sounds frightened and needs help immediately. Maybe they say they lost their wallet while traveling, were in an accident, or need money sent right away. The voice sounds authentic. The details seem believable. You may even see their face on a video call. There may be a faint inkling in the back of your mind that something isn’t right, but the urgency of the situation overrides the warning bells in your head. The safest response may be to assume that none of those things proves who is actually contacting you. Artificial intelligence has made it possible to imitate voices and create convincing images and videos. It’s scary how good the fakes have become. Rather than trying to become an expert at spotting every fake, you can create a simple verification ritual with the people who matter to you, one that everyone agrees to use when something feels urgent. Start with the callback rule. If a family member calls or texts requesting money, account information, passwords, or other sensitive information, end the conversation and call them back using a number you already have saved. Do not use the number provided in the message or by the caller. The important part is making this a family rule now so that hanging up during a real emergency does not feel rude or unusual. Create a family pause phrase. Choose a word or short phrase your family can use when verifying an unusual request. It should be memorable but not something you regularly post or discuss publicly. The phrase is not meant to be your only security measure. Think of it as another reason to pause before acting. Create a phrase that’s an inside joke, a funny phrase, or a family motto, so it's something specific to you and Give yourself permission to slow things down. Fraud often depends on urgency. Someone needs money now. You cannot tell anyone. There is no time to call back. Make the opposite your family habit. Set the expectation to pause, call the known number, or check with another family member. Confirm the story before moving money or sharing information. It may feel strange to create rules for proving that you are really you, but that is becoming part of protecting a family's financial life. Consider bringing this up at your next family dinner or group chat. Five minutes spent agreeing on a callback rule and a shared phrase today could make a very stressful call much easier to navigate later. |
Could Your Family Spot a Fake You?
