How to Verify Suspicious AI Content
One checklist for every suspicious call, video, message, or email. Five minutes, no special tools — and it works against scams that have not been invented yet.
The 5-minute checklist
| # | Step | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Break contact. Hang up, close the chat, step away. | Every scam needs urgency. Distance restores judgment. |
| 2 | Call back on a known number. Dial it yourself — never use provided links or numbers. | Scammers control inbound contact, not your outbound dial. |
| 3 | Demand the code word. Family and workplace code words defeat impersonation instantly. | Clones mimic voices, not shared secrets. |
| 4 | Reverse-search the artifacts. Images, phone numbers, email addresses, quoted text. | Stolen photos and scripted messages surface fast. |
| 5 | Slow the money down. No payment moves same-day on an inbound request. Ever. | Time kills scams. Every hour of delay is protection. |
Quick answers
How can I tell if a voice call is an AI clone?
Hang up and call the person back on a number you know. Clones can fake a call but cannot answer your callback. A family code word defeats clones instantly.
What should I do if I already sent money to a scammer?
Contact your bank immediately to attempt a recall, call local police, and report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Speed matters — do all three today.
What is a family code word and how does it stop scams?
A secret word every family member memorizes. Any emergency call must include it. Since scammers cannot guess it, no code word means hang up and call back.
Print this for your family.
The people who need this checklist most — grandparents, teens, busy parents — will never search for it mid-scam. Send them this page today, set the code word tonight.