As AI-powered deepfake scams become more sophisticated, cybersecurity experts are urging families to create secret codewords that can help expose fraudsters and prevent costly scams.
Deepfake technology can now convincingly imitate a person’s voice, making it easier for criminals to deceive victims into believing a loved one is in danger. However, experts say one thing scammers cannot fake is a private codeword known only to family members.
One such case involved Elizabeth Benz, a mother from Buffalo, New York, who received a distressing phone call in September 2025 from what sounded exactly like her 16-year-old son, John.
According to Benz, the caller appeared to be crying and claimed that one of his friends had died.
“It was the most terror I’ve ever felt,” she recalled.
Moments later, a stranger took over the call and claimed he had murdered her son’s friend. The caller allegedly threatened to kill John unless she delivered $7,500 to a Walmart parking lot.
“He said, ‘We are going to kill your son,’” Benz said.
Experts say incidents like this highlight the growing threat posed by AI-generated voice cloning and deepfake technology.
To protect against such scams, security specialists recommend that families establish a unique secret codeword or phrase that can be used to verify a person’s identity during emergencies.
They also advise people to remain calm, contact the supposed victim through another trusted phone number, and avoid sending money before independently confirming the situation.
Cybersecurity professionals warn that while scammers may successfully imitate someone’s voice, they cannot guess a private family codeword, making it one of the simplest and most effective tools for preventing fraud.
