If you grew up before cell phones, your family may have used a secret password as a safety tool. If someone showed up at school claiming, “Your mom sent me to pick you up,” a child would ask for the family password before getting into the car. If the person didn’t know it, the child knew not to go with them.
With the rise of cell phones and smartwatches, you may think family passwords are no longer necessary. After all, if a child or spouse needs to verify something, they can just call or text, right?
Not so fast!
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier than ever to impersonate someone’s voice, placing families at risk in ways we never imagined.
The New Role of Family Passwords
In the age of AI-generated deepfake voices, scammers don’t need access to your phone or computer. They just need a few seconds of your voice from a voicemail, video, or social media post. With that, they can create a near-perfect replica and use it to trick your loved ones into handing over sensitive information.
Imagine if your spouse calls, their voice sounding just like it always does. They urgently say, "Hey, I forgot my bank login info. Can you tell me our PIN?" You answer without thinking, after all, it sounds exactly like them. But it’s not.
Or worse, a loved one receives a call that sounds like you in distress, claiming to need money sent immediately. Wanting to help, they wire the funds…except it wasn’t you on the phone.
AI voice scams are on the rise, and they’re convincing enough to fool even the most cautious people.
That’s why every family, even those without young children, should have a secret password. It’s a simple yet powerful way to verify that the person on the other end of the line is really who they say they are.
How to Set Up a Family Password
When you create a family password, you want to make it unique, difficult to guess, and memorable for your family. Avoid using obvious choices like a pet’s name or a commonly used phrase.
Most importantly, keep it secret—only share it with immediate family members and trusted individuals.
Pick a Password That Stands Out Choose something meaningful but random enough that a scammer couldn’t guess it. A phrase like "Blue banana rocket" is better than "1234."
Ask for It in Suspicious Situations If you or a family member receive a call or text requesting money, personal information, or urgent action, ask for the family password. If the caller doesn’t know it, hang up immediately.
Practice and Update It Regularly Talk with your family about when and how to use the password, and update it every few months to keep it secure.
Technology has evolved, but the need to protect our families remains the same. A family password is no longer just for kids. It’s a simple yet powerful tool to stay ahead of modern scams, especially in a world where AI can mimic voices with eerie accuracy.
Take five minutes today to set up a family password. It could make all the difference in keeping you and your loved ones safe.
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