Silent Calls Could Be a New Scam: Beware of a New Form of Fraud

La Libre Belgique, a respected Belgian newspaper, urges readers to be vigilant against a new wave of phone scams. These 'silent calls,' where no one speaks when you answer, are not random occurrences but a calculated tactic by fraudsters.

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You too, you receive calls from unknown numbers, but no one answers when you pick up? This phenomenon, increasingly frequent, can hide an attempted scam.

Initially, these calls serve to confirm that a phone number is in use, with the data then sold on the dark web for further exploitation in SMS scams. However, the threat has escalated. Scammers are now actively seeking voice samples, capturing short phrases like 'hello' or 'good day.' With advancements in AI, these brief recordings can be used to convincingly mimic a person's voice.

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The simple fact of answering is enough to confirm that the line is in use.

This voice imitation opens the door to serious identity theft and financial fraud. Imagine your voice being used to authorize bank transactions or deceive loved ones. La Libre Belgique emphasizes the need for immediate action: do not speak when you answer an unknown call, refrain from calling back unknown numbers, and block any suspicious contacts. This is a crucial reminder for all Belgians to protect themselves in an increasingly digital and deceptive world.

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With recent advances in artificial intelligence, a few seconds of recording can be enough to reproduce a voice timbre convincingly.