Criminals are using AI technology to clone people’s voices and set up unauthorised direct debits over the phone, according to new evidence from National Trading Standards. The advanced voice cloning is part of an organised criminal operation that harvests people’s personal data to target victims with a wave of scam and nuisance calls.
The process begins with a so-called ‘lifestyle survey’ phone call – seemingly harmless, but in fact designed to gather detailed personal, health and financial information. The criminals use this data to develop AI-generated voice clones used to simulate consent for direct debits, deceiving even legitimate businesses and financial providers. These details appear then to be passed or sold to other criminal operations who, with the details, can easily circumvent the banks and set up payments without the victim’s knowledge. Victims often do not realise payments are being taken.
The details are revealed as new data, released today by National Trading Standards, show that:-
- On average, UK adults receive 7 scam calls or texts per month
- 1 in 5 (21%) receive scam calls or texts most days – and almost 1 in 10 (9%) receive them every day
- National Trading Standards blocked nearly 21 million scam phone calls and shut down 2,000 numbers in a six-month period
Louise Baxter, Head of the National Trading Standards Scams Team, said: “What we’re seeing is a deeply disturbing combination of old and new: traditional phone scams supported by disturbing new techniques. Criminals are using AI not just to deceive victims, but to trick legitimate systems into processing fraudulent payments. This is no longer just a nuisance – it’s a coordinated, sophisticated operation targeting some of the most situationally vulnerable consumers in society. We urge everyone to speak to friends and relatives about scam calls, check bank statements regularly and report anything suspicious.”
John Herriman, Chief Executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said: “This alarming new twist in phone-based fraud shows just how quickly criminals are exploiting emerging technologies to prey on the public. Voice cloning takes scam calls to a sinister new level, making it even harder for legitimate businesses and consumers to distinguish real interactions from fraudulent ones.
“Trading Standards teams across the UK are working tirelessly to disrupt these operations, but we need the public to stay alert, talk to loved ones about the risks, and report anything suspicious. Protecting consumers, especially those most vulnerable, requires all of us to stay informed and work together to tackle these modern day and emerging examples of fraud.”