Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn't just a buzzword of the future; it's been among us for years. And while it has many advantages, it's not without significant challenges. Deceivers are leveraging AI to replicate the voices of our loved ones, making scams all the more convincing.
Headlines caution: "Advanced AI technology is elevating phone scams to new levels, making them more intricate and increasingly credible. Tricksters are now harnessing this tech to duplicate familiar voices, ensnaring even the most discerning individuals."
Today's guest, Simon Horswell, joins us to shed light on this rising concern and advise us on navigating these treacherous waters. He shares that younger people experience fraud and financial loss more often than older people, but explains that it's the older generation who often have so much to lose.
Simon provides insight into how AI software can recreate a person's voice after just 10 minutes of learning it and the importance of adopting a "code word" system to verify the authenticity of a call and protect against voice cloning scams.
Simon Horswell has a diverse work experience spanning several industries. Simon currently works at Onfido as a Fraud Specialist Senior Manager.
Prior to this, he served as a Fraud Specialist Manager from 2022-2023, and as a Document Specialist Team Lead from 2019-2022. Simon started his tenure at Onfido as a Document Specialist in 2018.
Before joining Onfido, Simon worked at foster+freeman forensic science innovation as a Document Application Specialist. In this position, he provided training and advice to the law enforcement and security industry worldwide.
Simon also gained experience with the National Document Fraud Unit, UK Border Agency (UKBA), where he worked as an Immigration Officer & Expert Document Examiner from 2004-2011. In this role, he offered expert opinion on the authenticity of secure identity documents, identified new types of forgery, and provided training to government agencies.
Prior to Simon's time at UKBA, he worked as an Immigration Officer at UKBA (formerly UKIS), Gatwick Airport, North Terminal from 2000-2004. Simon was responsible for interviewing arriving passengers and determining their eligibility for entry into the UK.
Overall, Simon has a well-rounded work experience in fraud detection, document verification, immigration, sales, and office administration.