How to protect yourself when suspicious calls keep coming

Your phone rings. The caller sounds professional, knows your name and insists there is a problem with your bank account. Or you hear a frightened voice that sounds like your child, asking for help.

That is what makes AI scam calls so unsettling: a familiar voice can feel like proof.

The Federal Trade Commission warns that criminals can use a short audio clip, including material posted online, to clone a loved one’s voice. A convincing voice can turn an old family emergency scam into something much harder to dismiss.

Why these calls are dangerous

Scammers have always relied on fear, trust and urgency. Artificial intelligence gives them another way to make an impersonation believable. The FBI warns that criminals use generated audio to impersonate relatives in a crisis and demand immediate financial help or ransom.

Imagine hearing what sounds like your grandchild saying they have been arrested. Someone else takes the phone, claims to be an attorney and tells you to send money immediately. The emotional pressure can make it difficult to stop and question the story.

Not every suspicious call uses AI, and hearing an unusual pause does not prove a voice is artificial. You do not need to solve that mystery before protecting yourself. Focus on what the caller wants you to do.

Recognize the pressure

Watch for demands for immediate payment, threats or instructions to keep the conversation secret. Be especially cautious about requests for gift card numbers, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. These are familiar scam tactics, whether AI is involved or not.

Caller ID is not proof of identity. Scammers can fake the displayed name and number, including a local number or a familiar organization’s name.

Use a simple response: “I will contact you through the number I already have.” Then end the call.

Hang up and verify independently

If someone claims to be a relative, call that person using the number saved in your contacts. If they do not answer, contact another family member or friend who can help verify the story.

The FTC’s advice on voice cloning is straightforward: verify through a number you know belongs to the person. Hearing a voice you recognize is not enough.

If someone claims to represent your bank, use the number on your card or your bank’s official app. Avoid the callback number supplied during the suspicious call. The FBI recommends ending suspicious calls and contacting the organization independently.

What to do when the calls keep coming

Repeated calls deserve a routine that reduces both interruptions and pressure:

• Let unfamiliar calls go to voicemail. Review messages when you have time to think.
• Turn on spam filtering. Ask your telephone provider about call blocking and spam labels for your mobile phone or home phone.
• Consider silencing unknown callers. If your phone offers this option, review voicemail regularly so you do not miss an important caller.
• Block repeat offenders. This may help with particular numbers, although spoofing means calls can appear under different numbers.
• Check your filters. Call blocking can accidentally catch calls you want, including calls from medical offices or other businesses.

Do not press a button to leave a suspicious robocall’s list. The FTC warns that doing so may lead to more calls. Registering at DoNotCall.gov can reduce covered sales calls from legitimate businesses, but scammers ignore the registry.

The goal is fewer interruptions and more time to assess messages.

Make a family plan before an emergency

The FBI recommends choosing a private family word or phrase to help verify identity. Keep it off social media and use it alongside an independent callback.

Agree that everyone is allowed to hang up and check an unexpected request for money. Review what you share publicly, including voice recordings and personal details that could support an impersonation.

A useful household rule is: no emergency payment until someone verifies the emergency through a separate, trusted contact.

If you already sent money or shared information

Contact your bank, card issuer or payment service immediately. Explain what happened and ask whether the payment can be stopped or reversed. Recovery is not guaranteed, but prompt action matters.

Change exposed passwords, including anywhere you reused them, and enable two-factor authentication. Visit IdentityTheft.gov for guidance if personal information was compromised. Report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Consumer Advice

Internet-enabled financial fraud can also be reported at IC3.gov. Save voicemails, messages, receipts and transaction details. Unwanted calls without a financial loss can be reported at DoNotCall.gov. ic3.gov

Be wary of anyone who contacts you offering to recover your money for a fee. Recovery scams can target people who have already lost money. Consumer Advice

There is no shame in being shaken by a convincing call. These schemes exploit care for your family and concern for your finances.

You do not owe an unexpected caller an immediate answer, personal information or money. Give yourself time to hang up, check the facts and decide.