Ask HN: How to protect old parents from evolving AI based scams?

An easy prevention against this is to remind everyone to never, ever disclose personal details over the phone. Especially when someone else, even a loved one, solicits you for them. This was a problem pre-AI, it will get worse post-AI, but the general mistake is still avoidable. Teach people what to avoid and they will avoid it accordingly.

As for voice fakes, these are wicked. Some have suggested using a secret codeword with relatives who might be faked for ransom demands etc.

I don’t even want to click on the “personalized” URL that my auto service provider sends, as that might encourage the salespeople. But they hide the tracking URL.

If it takes hovering over every URL for a hardened techie like me, pity the average person.

Thinking about a home proxy box to sanitize things. ISP’s won’t do it because they are in on the scams (IMO) and outside and AV services cost to do a nontrivial job.

Have been thinking about this for some time. Has to be dead-simple, bulletproof and zero-maintenance. Not much to ask?

In any case, I would advise everyone (including your parents) to have a safe word/phrase such that everyone knows that if that word or phrase is not used in a important communication, then it isn't really from them.

Beyond that, the usual safety rules apply: never click on links, never talk to businesses if they call you (look up their number and call them back if it seems important), etc.