The “Grandma Scam” is getting a high-tech upgrade
I cloned my own voice using ElevenLabs today. It took 30 seconds of audio. Then I played a clip of “myself” to my mom over the phone. She didn’t suspect a thing until I told her. That is both incredible and absolutely terrifying.
In 2026, we’re seeing a rise in “voice phishing.” Scammers only need a 10-second clip from your Instagram story to impersonate you perfectly. They can even mimic your emotional tone—crying, laughing, or sounding stressed. It’s the ultimate social engineering tool.
We need a “safe word” for our families now. No, seriously. If I ever ask for money over the phone, the answer better be our secret password, or it’s just a bot.
Alex’s Take
We’re losing our biological signatures one by one. First our faces (deepfakes), now our voices. Trust nothing that comes out of a speaker without a second verification.
We’re losing our biological signatures one by one. First our faces (deepfakes), now our voices. Trust nothing that comes out of a speaker without a second verification.
– Alex