Family safe-word kit
One word that beats a cloned voice
Scammers can copy a loved one's voice from a short video and call with a fake emergency. A private safe word, known only to your family, lets anyone check who they're really talking to.
The shared message explains the idea but doesn't include the word. Agree the word face to face or on a call.
The five-step family drill
- Agree the word in person. Never write it in a group chat or social media. Everyone who might be impersonated or targeted should know it: children, parents, grandparents.
- Make a rule: no money, codes or passwords move until the caller gives the safe word or you've called them back on their known number.
- If a call feels urgent, pause. Say “I'll call you right back,” hang up, and call the number you already have saved.
- Ask for the word, never give it. A scammer might say “What's our word again?” Real family won't need to ask.
- Practise once. Role-play a “Grandma, I'm in trouble” call so it feels natural to ask.
Good safe words
Unusual combinations like “velvet walrus 47”. Avoid pet names, birthdays, street names or anything posted online.
Which scams a safe word stops
- "Mum, I've been in an accident" calls with a cloned voice, crying or a bad line. See AI voice-clone calls.
- "Hi Mum, this is my new number" texts that ask for a bill to be paid. See the Hi Mum scam.
- Fake kidnapping or arrest calls demanding money for bail, a lawyer or a hospital.
- Deepfake video calls from someone who looks like a relative or your boss. See deepfake video scams.
Who should know the word
Everyone who might be impersonated and everyone who might be targeted: children and teenagers, parents, grandparents, and anyone who looks after the family's money. For older relatives, write a reminder that says "Ask for the family word before sending money" without writing the word itself, and keep it near the phone.
Five scripts that make it easy to ask
- "Before we go on, what's our family word?"
- "I'll call you straight back on your usual number."
- "I can't send anything until I've spoken to Dad."
- "Tell me something only you would know."
- "If this is real, it can wait two minutes."
Questions
Do AI voice-clone scams really happen?
Yes. Consumer protection agencies in several countries warn that scammers use short voice clips from social media to clone a voice and fake an emergency call. A safe word is one of the simplest defences they recommend.
What if a family member forgets the word?
Hang up and call them back on the number you already have saved, or contact another family member who is with them. A real emergency can wait two minutes for a call back.
Should grandparents have a safe word too?
Especially grandparents. "Grandparent scams", where a caller pretends to be a grandchild in trouble, are among the most common emergency scams.
Can we use the same word for years?
Yes, as long as it stays private. Change it if you think someone outside the family has heard it, or after you use it in a real situation.
Does this also work for texts and WhatsApp?
Yes. If a "new number" message claims to be family and asks for money, ask for the safe word, or better, call the old number.