FBI Warning For All iPhone, Android Users—Hang Up Now, Use This Code

As smartphone attacks become increasingly sophisticated and convincing, law enforcement agencies are sounding the alarm. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a warning to all iPhone and Android users to hang up immediately if they receive a call claiming to be from a family member or close friend asking for money.

The threat is real and growing, with security experts and authorities pointing to AI-powered deepfake attacks as the main culprit. These attacks use artificial intelligence to create convincing audio recordings of individuals, making it difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake calls.

The Problem of Deepfakes

Deepfakes are a type of AI-generated content that can be used to create fake audio or video recordings. They have become increasingly sophisticated, making them nearly indistinguishable from real-life recordings.

Voice fakes, in particular, have gained public attention after a viral article highlighted the risks of being fooled by AI-generated voice recordings. Security expert Adrianus Warmenhoven, who has warned iPhone and Android users about the threat, notes that "phone scammers increasingly use voice cloning tools for their fraudulent activities because this kind of software has become more affordable and effective over time."

The Consequences

The consequences of falling victim to these attacks can be severe. According to a report by Truecaller and The Harris Poll, AmericaUnder Attack: The Shifting Landscape of Spam and Scam Calls in America, the total number of phone scam victims exceeded 50 million in the U.S. alone across the previous 12 months, with estimated losses of $452 per victim.

The FBI's Warning

The FBI has issued a public service alert (PSA) addressing this very subject, warning users to hang up immediately if they receive a call claiming to be from a family member or close friend asking for money. The agency also recommends creating a secret code known only to your close family and friends as an additional layer of protection.

Europol Joins the Warning

Europol, the European Union's law enforcement agency, has also issued a warning about the changing DNA of organized crime, which is increasingly being driven by AI-powered technologies. The new European Serious Organized Crime Threat Assessment notes that "crime is being accelerated by AI and emerging technologies."

What Can You Do?

To mitigate the risk of these sophisticated and increasingly dangerous AI attacks against iPhone and Android users, follow these steps:

  • Hang up immediately if you receive a call claiming to be from a family member or close friend asking for money.
  • Verify the identity of the person calling using direct means yourself.
  • Create a secret word or phrase that is only known to you and your close contacts, which can be used to identify a caller claiming to be someone in trouble.
  • Beware of what you post on social media, as it can be used to negatively impact your security through the rise of deepfakes, voice cloning, and other scams enabled by AI tools.

Break the New Criminal Code

To disrupt the networks that allow these scams to thrive, authorities recommend targeting their finances, disrupting their supply chains, and staying ahead of their use of technology. By working together, we can break this new criminal code and protect ourselves from these sophisticated threats.