For South African businesses, especially those where a single person can authorise payments, this is a real and growing fraud risk, not a futuristic one. The practical defence isn't better voice-detection technology; it's process — requiring a second verification step, such as a callback to a known number or dual sign-off, for any urgent payment request, regardless of how convincing the call sounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much audio does a scammer need to clone a voice convincingly?
Modern AI voice tools can produce a usable clone from as little as a few seconds to a couple of minutes of sample audio, often sourced from public videos or voicemails.
What's the best defence against a deepfake voice scam?
A verification process, like calling back on a known, pre-saved number, or requiring a second person to approve unusual payment requests, rather than relying on recognising the voice itself.
Are deepfake scams limited to phone calls?
No — the same techniques are increasingly used in video calls and voice notes, so any urgent, unusual payment or data request deserves independent verification, regardless of the format.