FRAUDLIFESTYLE & TRAVEL

Fighting AI Fraud with a Family Codeword

A predetermined codeword could be the defining moment in whether you or family either prevents or falls victim to fraudulent scams, particularly financial scams involving artificial intelligence (AI). In many cases, AI has helped society by improving efficiency, personalizing experiences, and enhancing problem solving. One area where AI has become problematic, however, is fraud.

People are finding it harder and harder to discern what is real and what isn’t, especially when it comes to deepfakes. Deepfakes are AI-generated videos or images that appear realistic but often have been manipulated to replace someone’s face or speech with another’s, commonly used in situations to gain some type of financial deception over a vulnerable person. With these advancements in technology, AI has tools that are capable of cloning people’s voices and images, creating audio and visuals that are so realistic that the majority of people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

This is where a family codeword could be key to keeping your family safe and protected. A family codeword is a secret word or phrase known only to your family members and is used to verify the legitimacy of a caller’s identity on the other end. For example, if a scammer calls impersonating one of your family members asking you for money and something feels off about the conversation or it is unexpected or unusual, ask for the preidentified codeword. If they can't provide it, it’s an immediate red flag, signaling the exchange could be fraud or a non-legitimate phone call.

Here are some tips for creating and using a family codeword:

• Choose a unique word or phrase. Your codeword should not be easily guessed and should not be something someone could find publicly. Avoid using personal information like street names, phone numbers or pet names.
• Communicate securely. Share the codeword with all immediate family members in a secure setting, such as an in-person meeting, and emphasize the importance of not sharing it with anyone outside the family. Only share if absolutely necessary, such as helping a child identify if it is safe to be picked up by someone unexpected and asking for the codeword that was provided by their parent. Change the codeword afterward this occurs.
• Practice the codeword. Ensure everyone in the family knows the codeword, how to remember it, and how to properly ask for the codeword.
• Change it if it’s been used. Once the codeword has been needed and used, it’s best to change it to keep it unique and not easily guessed.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for the codeword. If you are ever contacted by someone claiming to be a family member or sent from a family member and you feel unsure, ask for the codeword to verify their identity. If the person becomes agitated or upset, hang up the phone immediately and call the person they pretend to be.

In a world where fraudulent scams are becoming increasingly clever, a family code word provides an effective and straightforward way to safeguard your family against deception. By taking this proactive approach, you are not only enhancing your family’s safety and security but also fostering a sense of preparedness and unity because fraud doesn’t discriminate, and no one is immune to it.