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Sound Advice: February 12, 2025

A.I. Phone Call or Just Plain Stupid (J.P.S.) 

A few days ago, I received an incoming call from Yacolt, Washington (population: 1,626).  I ignore most calls of this sort, but was curious to find out what it was about.  Rather than saying “hello”, I answered “May I  help you,” figuring that whatever I said could be recorded and in some way used “inappropriately.” 

The caller’s response: “This is Jordan, calling on behalf of Aiden Cosby.”

When I asked who Aiden Cosby was, the caller repeated: “This is Jordan, calling on behalf of Aiden Cosby.” That seemed odd.

When I said I had never heard of Aiden Cosby, the caller said there was some confusion and repeated what he had already said for the third time.

It quickly became obvious that this was a bogus call created by someone who hadn’t thoroughly considered the script possibilities, which is why the A.I. creature at the other end did not have the tools to move the conversation toward whatever their presumably tempting offer was in exchange for my Social Security Number, credit card numbers or other equally valuable information.

So I hung up and blocked the number.

Here’s what you need to know: 

To identify AI phone calls, look for these key signs:

  1. Unnatural speech patterns: AI callers may have robotic or mechanical-sounding speech, lacking natural pauses or inflections
  2. Limited contextual understanding: AI systems might struggle with nuanced conversations, providing responses that feel scripted or disconnected
  3. Repetitive or predictable responses: AI callers often have a limited set of pre-programmed responses, especially for complex questions
  4. Inconsistent audio quality: Listen for sudden changes in audio quality or background noise, which could indicate an AI-generated call
  5. Difficulty with open-ended questions: Try asking complex or open-ended questions to test the system's capabilities
  6. Unusual pauses or delays: AI systems may have slight delays in processing and responding to your questions
  7. Lack of emotional intelligence: AI callers might struggle to understand or respond appropriately to emotional cues

To protect yourself from AI phone scams:

  1. Verify the caller's identity: If suspicious, hang up and call the organization directly using a known, official number
  2. Be cautious of urgent requests: Scammers often create a false sense of urgency
  3. Don't say "Yes": Avoid answering questions that can be answered with "Yes," as scammers may record your voice for fraudulent purposes
  4. Use call-blocking tools: Consider using call-blocking apps or services provided by your phone company
  5. Report suspicious calls: Help others by reporting potential scams to the appropriate authorities

By staying vigilant and following these guidelines, you can better identify AI phone calls and protect yourself from potential scams.

N. Russell Wayne

Weston, CT  06883

203-895-8877

www.soundasset.blogspot.com

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