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When “a relative” calls urgently asking for money

Prepare your family for impersonation calls, cloned voices and messages from a new number.

securIT ·

A familiar voice is not confirmation.

Voice cloning can make an impersonation call more convincing. If you receive an unexpected request for money, end the call and ring the person on a number you already know. If you cannot reach them, contact another relative.

Make your own callback routine.

Our suggestion for a family conversation: each person chooses one trusted contact and a backup contact. Save their numbers on the phone. Try calling back in a calm moment, so nobody needs to search for the right button under pressure.

A code word is an extra step.

If you choose a family code word, keep it private and do not reuse an account password. It does not replace an independent callback. This website never asks you to enter the word: the safety plan only records that you have agreed on one.

Practise with everyone’s knowledge.

Say: “Let’s try what we’d do if a new number asked us to pay a bill.” Let your relative describe their next step, then try reaching the person through a known number together. The aim is a familiar routine, not catching someone out.

Further reading: FTC: Scammers use AI in family emergency schemes