Experts are warning South Africans to be cautious when sending voice notes via WhatsApp.
The warning comes from Andrew Bourne, Regional Manager at Zoho Corporation Africa. Speaking to CapeTalk, Bourne highlighted that cybercriminals can steal voice biometrics.
Bourne emphasized that silent calls are one of the easiest ways to capture a person’s voice.
“When you pick up the phone and say ‘hello, hello, hello’ and there’s no one on the other end, it may not just be a dropped call. Criminal organizations could actually be collecting data,” he said.
Simply saying “hello” can provide enough material to create a convincing deepfake voice.
Bourne noted, “If you are a targeted individual, they could research and compile recordings of your voice to create a realistic deepfake.”
“That’s why awareness and education are so important. People need to know that these aren’t just harmless calls,” he added.
Bourne also urged South Africans to be more cautious:
“If someone calls claiming they have your ID number, don’t just trust them. Ask them to prove who they are—ask which bank account it concerns or for details only your institution would know.”
“Not answering calls may feel rude, or questioning someone claiming to be from your bank may seem paranoid, but these small steps can protect you,” he said.
“Awareness and digital literacy are our best defenses against increasingly sophisticated scams that target not only our data but also our very voices.”