USA
Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (opens in new tab). If money was sent, call your bank straight away.
Real World: Scams
AI Voice Scams: What The Numbers Show
Scammers can now copy a person's voice with AI and use it in a fake emergency call. A 2024 UK survey found 28% of adults thought they had been targeted in the past year. In the USA, the FCC has ruled that AI voices in robocalls fall under the law that limits automated calls. A family safe phrase helps.
Last checked 16 October 2026. Every figure on this page links to its source below.
How Do AI Voice Scams Work?
AI tools can copy the sound of a voice from a short recording. Starling Bank, a UK bank, says criminals can clone a voice from as little as three seconds of audio, such as a clip in a video posted online. The scammer then calls a relative, often an older parent or grandparent, pretending there has been an accident or arrest and asking for money quickly.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that the voice can sound exactly like your loved one, so you cannot trust the voice alone.
How Many People Are Being Targeted?
In August 2024 Starling Bank asked Mortar Research to survey 3,010 UK adults. The results were published in September 2024.
UK adults and AI voice cloning scams (2024 survey)
Think they were targeted in the past year28%
Had never heard of this kind of scam46%
Would confidently know what to look out for30%
Would send whatever money was asked for, even if the call seemed strange8%
These figures are what people told a survey. They show how many think they have been targeted, not how many lost money. Even so, the gap between the 28% and the 30% who know the warning signs is worrying.
What Are US Regulators Doing?
In February 2024 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ruled that AI-generated voices count as "artificial" voices under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. In plain terms, robocalls using a cloned voice need the person's prior consent, and the FCC and state attorneys general can act against those who break the rules.
The law does not stop a criminal from calling. It does give officials more power to go after them.
What It Means For You
Quick Steps
- Agree a safe phrase with close family that you would never post online. Ask for it in any emergency call.
- If a call asks for money urgently, hang up and call the person back on a number you already have.
- Be wary of anyone asking for gift cards, cash couriers, wire transfers or cryptocurrency.
- Think about who can see your videos and voice clips on social media.
UK
Call your bank on 159 if money was sent. Report the scam to Report Fraud.
Our full guide to AI voice cloning scams has more detail and a printable checklist.
Common Questions
How much of my voice does a scammer need?
Starling Bank says as little as three seconds of audio can be enough, for example from a video posted online.
What is a safe phrase?
A word or short phrase your family agrees in advance and never posts online. If someone calls in an emergency, ask for it. A cloned voice will not know it.
Are AI voice robocalls illegal in the USA?
In February 2024 the FCC ruled that AI-generated voices are covered by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, so robocalls using them need prior consent. Criminals still make them, so stay alert.
I nearly fell for one. Should I report it?
Yes. Reports help track scammers even if you lost nothing. Use ReportFraud.ftc.gov in the USA or Report Fraud in the UK.
New to all this? Our free AI Starter Guide walks you through the basics, and you can print it.
Read Next
Sources
Last checked 16 October 2026.
Updated 19 October 2026