Skip to main content

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

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sound Advice: July 16, 2025

Fixed annuities are poor investments Fixed annuities are often criticized as poor investments for several reasons, despite their reputation for providing stable, predictable income.  Here are the key drawbacks and concerns:   High Fees and Commissions Internal Fees:  Fixed annuities can carry a range of fees, including administrative charges, mortality expense risk fees, and rider fees. These can add up to 2%–4% per year, significantly eroding returns over time. Commissions:  Sales agents and financial advisors often receive high commissions for selling annuities—sometimes as much as 5%–8% of the invested amount. This creates a financial incentive for advisers to recommend them, even when they may not be the best fit for the client. Comparison to Other Investments:  Mutual funds and ETFs typically have much lower fees and commissions, making them more cost-effective for long-term growth. Limited Growth a...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sound Advice: October 8, 2025

How many investors have outperformed the stock market over the last 20 years? Very few investors have outperformed the stock market over the past 20 years.   Data shows that only about 6% to 8% of actively managed equity funds in the U.S. beat the market over this period, with the vast majority—over 90%—underperforming the S&P 500 or equivalent broad indexes. Percentage of Investors Beating the Market Only 8% of equity funds investing in large companies managed to outperform the market over a recent 20-year span. About 94% of all domestic funds underperformed the S&P 1500 Composite Index from 2005-2024. Over shorter timeframes (5-10 years), typically fewer than 15-20% of fund managers beat the S&P 500, and performance persistence is rare. Why It Is Rare The S&P 500’s high returns have proven immensely difficult to beat, especially as indexing has become popular and markets have ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sound Advice: January 15, 2025

Why investors shouldn't pay attention to Wall Street forecasts   Investors shouldn't pay attention to Wall Street forecasts for several compelling reasons: Poor accuracy Wall Street forecasts have a terrible track record of accuracy. Studies show that their predictions are often no better than random chance, with accuracy rates as low as 47%   Some prominent analysts even perform worse, with accuracy ratings as low as 35% Consistent overestimation Analysts consistently overestimate earnings growth, predicting 10-12%                 annual growth when the reality is closer to 6%.   This overoptimism can                 lead investors to make overly aggressive bets in the market. Inability to predict unpredictable events The stock market is influenced by numerous unpredictable factors, including geopolitical events, technological changes, and company-specific news.   Anal...
Post a Comment
Read more