When the voice sounds like family
Scammers can copy a voice from a few seconds of audio taken from social media. You may get a call or voice note that sounds exactly like your child or grandchild — crying, in an accident, arrested — needing money right now, and begging you not to tell anyone.
The voice being familiar is no longer proof it's really them.
What to do: hang up and call the person back on their own saved number, or reach them through another family member. Agree a family code word in advance that only real family knows. Never send money on a voice alone. In a genuine emergency your family would call 192 — notice that a scam caller never lets you hang up to dial it.
Listen to the training example below and notice what the voice never does — answer a question ("Which accident? Where are you?"). Hang up and call your grandchild's real number yourself.
Threat examples
Tap the outlined parts of the message to see the red flags
It's me — I've been in an accident and I need money right now. Please don't tell Mum, just send it to this number quickly, I'm scared.
Listen: how it sounds
Training example — recreated voice, not a real call