deepfake audio scams - need to strengthen services to help prevent scam callers

[User1637]

Lat Thursday, Sept 19 at 7:02pm, a call came in from NUMERIS from 1-226-***-****. First red flag I should have thought of is that this call was not coming through a 1-800 number. My bad that I answered and gave the three words they needed to AI scam with my voice moving forward was "Hello, ok, yes". Then, came the hang up and I knew this was headed south. Read this FCC bulletin: Deep-Fake Audio and Video Links Make Robocalls and Scam Texts Harder to Spot  for details.

I tried to call Bell to find the call log info - I've yet to receive a call back. When I look up the number online, it says it is originating from allstream in the Kitchener Waterloo area. Bell - why are you not verifying the caller id and phone number? And, doing more to stop these calls. I have seem complaints on Reddit for this NUMERIS scam for the last seven months. This is not the first time this happened at our home. We had a similar bank impersonation happen last month. Bad on the CRTC for not enforcing these requirements by you so to protect the onslaught on what will follow with these deepfake scams. I am taking looking to take precautions. Bell, hoping you do the same besides telling us to call the anti-fraud center.

[dks · Accepted solution]

Thank you for the warning. These calls are, unfortunately, criminal activity. If you don't recognize the number, don't answer, even if it is a local call. Use the Call Answer service to have people leave a message. These fraudsters will hang up and not leave a message. 

The onus for protection is on us as consumers. I encourage everyone to become familiar with the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. It is a co-operative effort of the RCMP, the OPP and the Competition Bureau Canada, all Canadian law enforcement agencies. Their web site has a long list of possible frauds and ways to protect yourself. You can find their web site here. https://antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm . Lots of videos, as well.