A relative called crying and asked for money urgently. How do I know it is them and not an AI voice clone?

You often cannot tell by ear. Tamil Nadu Police warned that scammers take a voice sample from social media videos, or by keeping someone talking on a 'wrong number' call, clone it with AI and ring their contacts. The script is always urgent: an accident, a hospital, an arrest, pay now by UPI. In August 2026 a 67-year-old in Kolkata sent Rs 95,990 within an hour to a familiar voice that was never the person. So hang up and call back on the number saved in your phone, never one the caller gives you. Agree a family code word now and ask for it on any emergency call. Talk it through with older relatives. If money has gone, call 1930 straight away.