The Alberta RCMP is sharing a federal cybersecurity warning about AI-generated voice scams impersonating senior officials and public figures.
The warning, shared Tuesday on RCMP Alberta’s social media channels, follows a joint federal advisory issued Monday by the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security (CCCS) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). Authorities say a malicious campaign is targeting Canadians—particularly executives and senior public servants—with fraudulent calls and messages designed to steal money and personal information.
Federal officials say scammers are using artificial intelligence to mimic the voices of government leaders. In some cases, the messages include urgent financial requests, instructions to switch to alternate messaging apps, or phishing links disguised as official communications.
The CCCS, which is part of the Communications Security Establishment Canada, says these attacks are becoming more personalized and persuasive. Officials warn that even familiar phone numbers and voices can be spoofed.
Cyber officials classify these incidents as a form of “vishing”—short for voice phishing—where scammers use voice-altering software and social engineering to extract sensitive information over the phone.
A 2022 bulletin from the CCCS explains: “Vishing aims to convince the victim to disclose confidential information, such as a PIN, Social Insurance Number (SIN), credit card information, or account passwords. This information can be used for identity fraud, to conduct unauthorized financial transactions, or to gain access to corporate or personal accounts.” [ITSAP.00.102]
The same bulletin describes how threat actors use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to spoof caller IDs, automate scam calls, and create cloned voices using machine learning. In some cases, scammers also collect voice samples of high-profile individuals to improve the credibility of the call.
The Alberta RCMP is urging residents to be especially cautious of any messages claiming to be from government officials or other high-profile figures—particularly when those messages pressure for urgent action or contain unfamiliar links or instructions.
Warning signs to watch for include:
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Calls or texts claiming to be from senior officials urging immediate action
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Requests to download new apps or switch to a different messaging platform
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Suspicious links or demands for personal or financial data
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Voices or video messages with unnatural tone, choppy sentences, or mismatched background audio
To protect yourself, federal cyber officials recommend:
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Verifying any message or call independently through known contact methods
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Avoiding any links or attachments sent by unknown sources
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Letting unfamiliar numbers go to voicemail instead of answering directly
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Being skeptical of high-pressure requests involving money or personal data
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Watching for signs of audio manipulation, including robotic speech or off-tone cadence
The CCCS and CAFC also encourage Canadians to train staff on how to handle vishing attempts and to adopt internal protocols for verifying identity over the phone when sensitive information is involved.
In April, the FBI issued a similar warning after threat actors impersonated senior U.S. officials using artificial intelligence. The CCCS advisory notes that Canadian authorities have “recently become aware of similar tactics targeting Canadians in a related or linked campaign.”
Anyone who suspects they’ve been targeted is encouraged to report the incident to local police, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security.
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