Generative technology can make a recording sound like a person who is not actually speaking. That is useful in some creative settings, but criminals can exploit convincing synthetic voices to impersonate relatives, executives or service providers.
A common warning sign is urgency: a caller demands money or sensitive information immediately and asks the listener not to verify the story independently.
The safest first step is to slow down. Hang up and call the person or organization using a telephone number you already trust. Do not rely only on the incoming caller ID or a voice that sounds familiar.
The objective is not to distrust everyone. It is to recognize that identity can be imitated and that independent verification is a simple defense.
This article is a source-linked explainer, not a claim of firsthand interviews or exclusive reporting.
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