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AI voice scams: a family safe-word plan for kids 8 to 12

By the Bot Tamers team. Last updated .

Scammers can now use AI to copy a person's voice from a short clip and use it in a fake emergency call. The FBI, the FTC and the FCC all give the same core advice: agree on a family safe word, don't trust a voice on its own, and hang up and call the person back on a number you already have. Kids 8 to 12 can learn this in one short talk. Here is how these scams work, a simple safe-word plan, and what to say to your child.

The short answer for parents

  • Pick a family safe word that only your family knows. The FBI's advice: "Create a secret word or phrase with your family to verify their identity."
  • Don't trust the voice. If a call or voice message asks for money, a code or a secret, hang up and call the person back on a number you already have. The FTC's advice: "Don't trust the voice. Call the person who supposedly contacted you and verify the story. Use a phone number you know is theirs."
  • Watch for pressure. Hurry, secrecy, and payment by wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency are signs of a scam.
  • Teach your child the same two rules: ask for the safe word, and check with a grown-up on a number you already know.

How AI voice scams work

A voice-cloning tool listens to recordings of a person and learns to make new speech that sounds like them. The FTC explains: "A scammer could use AI to clone the voice of your loved one. All he needs is a short audio clip of your family member's voice," which a scammer could get from videos or posts online.

The scam usually looks like an emergency. The FBI describes criminals who "generate short audio clips containing a loved one's voice to impersonate a close relative in a crisis situation, asking for immediate financial assistance or demanding a ransom." The goal is to make you panic and act before you think.

The FCC notes that the same tricks show up in robocalls and in scam texts that link to fake audio or video. Its advice: "Always proceed with caution when a caller is pressuring you for information or money immediately."

Kids come into this in two ways. A child's voice from a video can be copied to frighten a parent or grandparent. And a child can get a message that sounds like a parent asking for a passcode, a family member's details, or to keep something secret. Our guide on how to explain deepfakes to kids covers fake pictures and videos; this guide is about voices.

A family safe-word plan

You can set this up at dinner in ten minutes.

  1. Choose the word together. Make it something odd and easy to remember, like "purple pancake." Don't use a pet's name, a street, a birthday or anything that appears in your posts.
  2. Share it only in person. Don't text it, email it or write it in a shared note. Don't post it anywhere.
  3. Decide when it's used. Any call, voice message or text that asks for money, a code, a password, a secret, or a change of plans (like "someone else will pick you up today").
  4. Make the backup rule. Even with the right word, check by calling the person back on a number you already have. The FTC's advice: "Use a phone number you know is theirs."
  5. Practice once. Role-play a pretend call so your child hears how it feels to say "What's our safe word?" to a voice they know.
  6. Change it if it's used or shared. After a real or practice use, pick a new one.

Tell the grandparents, babysitters and anyone else who might call your child. They should know the word too, or know to expect to be asked for it.

The FBI also suggests that families "limit online content of your image or voice, make social media accounts private," and listen closely to the tone and word choice of an unexpected call. Fewer public clips means less for a scammer to copy.

What to tell kids 8 to 12

Keep it short and calm. You are giving your child a tool, not a fear.

You could say: "Computers can now copy a person's voice. So if anyone, even someone who sounds exactly like me, asks you for a code, a password, money or to keep a secret, ask for our safe word. Then hang up and call me on my real number, or find a grown-up you trust. You won't get in trouble for checking. Checking is the right move."

Points to cover:

  • A voice isn't proof. Sounding like Mom or Grandpa doesn't mean it is them.
  • Real family never minds being checked. If someone gets angry or says there's no time, that's a sign to stop.
  • Never share codes. Passcodes, one-time codes sent by text, and passwords are never shared on a call or message, with anyone.
  • Secrets plus pressure means stop. "Don't tell your parents" is a reason to tell your parents.
  • Tell a grown-up after. Even if your child handled it well, you want to know.

For older kids, add one more idea: the same rule works for texts and video calls. If something feels off, check through a second way you already trust. Our guides on teaching kids to fact-check AI and kids and AI chatbots build the same habit of checking before trusting, and how to talk to your child about AI has tips for keeping these talks going.

If you get a suspicious call

  • Hang up. Don't send money, gift cards or cryptocurrency, and don't share codes.
  • Call the person back on a number you already have, or call another family member who can check.
  • Ask for the safe word if you're still on the line.
  • Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If money was lost or asked for, the FBI asks people to report at ic3.gov.

Questions parents ask

Can AI really copy my child's voice?

The FTC says a scammer needs only a short audio clip, which could come from content posted online. That is why the FBI suggests keeping social media accounts private and limiting public clips of your family's voices.

What makes a good family safe word?

Something odd, easy for a child to remember, and not findable online. Two unrelated words work well. Avoid pet names, birthdays, street names or a favorite team.

What if my child forgets the safe word?

Then the backup rule does the work: hang up and call Mom, Dad or another trusted adult on a number they already know. Practice both rules so neither one carries the whole load.

Should my child answer calls from unknown numbers?

The FCC's advice is "Don't answer calls from unknown numbers." For kids, a simple family rule is to let unknown numbers go to voicemail and tell a parent.

Where do I report an AI voice scam?

Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The FBI takes reports of internet fraud at ic3.gov.

Where Bot Tamers fits

In our Safe and fair unit for ages 11 to 12, kids hear a voice message that sounds exactly like Mom asking for a code, and decide whether to send it. They learn a share check (is it private, could it be fake, is it fair?) and practice it on real situations, including AI voice cloning and a fake video. The habit they leave with is the same one in this guide: don't trust the voice, call Mom on her real number. There is no live chatbot: Bit, the robot in every lesson, is scripted. See every skill on the curriculum page, and how we handle privacy on our safety page.

Kids do Bot Tamers lessons on our website, on a computer, iPad or phone. $19.99/month or $199.99/year. 7 days free. Renews automatically until canceled. Cancel anytime in Settings in your parent area, then Manage subscription. Cancel before the trial ends and you won't be charged. If it sounds right for your child, you can create a parent account on our website now.

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