The Uttarakhand State Cyber Crime Cell has issued a public advisory warning citizens about the growing threat of cyber fraud involving artificial intelligence (AI)-based voice cloning technology. The Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) has also urged the public to remain vigilant against AI-enabled social engineering attacks. According to the advisory, cybercriminals are using AI-powered voice modulation tools to closely imitate the voices of family members, friends and acquaintances, sending WhatsApp voice messages that claim an emergency and seek immediate financial assistance.
According to the Cyber Cell, several recent incidents have involved victims receiving WhatsApp voice notes that sounded almost identical to the voices of their relatives or close associates. The messages typically cite emergencies such as accidents, hospitalisation, legal trouble or other urgent situations and request immediate transfers to specified bank accounts or UPI IDs.
Investigators said cybercriminals can now generate highly convincing voice replicas using AI voice modulation technology with only a few seconds of publicly available audio. As a result, relying solely on a familiar voice without independent verification can expose individuals to significant financial losses.
The Cyber Cell has advised the public not to transfer money based solely on voice messages or phone calls. If a friend or family member appears to request urgent financial assistance, people should first contact them directly using their previously verified phone number to confirm the request. Authorities cautioned against trusting WhatsApp voice notes or calls received from unfamiliar numbers.
The advisory also warns people not to transfer funds to any unknown bank account or UPI ID mentioned in such voice messages. If a message appears suspicious or creates pressure to make an immediate payment, it should be treated as a potential cyber fraud attempt and independently verified before taking any action.
The Future Crime Research Foundation (FCRF) said AI voice cloning represents a rapidly evolving form of social engineering in which cybercriminals exploit both advanced technology and human emotions. The organisation advised families to establish verification measures in advance, such as a private question, code word or alternate authentication process, to confirm the authenticity of emergency financial requests. FCRF further emphasised that no financial transaction should be made solely on the basis of a voice message and that every request should be independently verified.
The Cyber Cell has urged anyone who receives a suspicious AI-generated voice message or call to immediately report it to the nearest police station or the National Cyber Crime Helpline 1930. Citizens have also been advised to file a complaint through the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal and preserve all available digital evidence, enabling investigators to improve the chances of tracing the offenders and recovering the defrauded funds.
