Got a strange call or video from someone you know?
If a familiar voice or face is suddenly asking for money, a code, or personal details, slow down. The safest move is simple: hang up and call back on a number you already have. This page walks you through it, and it runs entirely on your device.
What Hunch can and cannot do here
Hunch does not analyze audio or video. It cannot tell you whether a specific call or clip is real or faked, and it will never claim that a particular voice or video is fake.
What Hunch can read is the written message that usually follows: the text, email, or DM that asks you to pay, to send a code, or to move money. Paste that into the checker and it points to the exact ask.
A 3-question check
Three quick questions. Your answers stay on this page, nothing is sent anywhere. Whatever you answer, the advice is the same calm next step, not a verdict.
What to do now
- Hang up and call back on a number you already know, the one saved in your phone, not a number from this message.
- Ask the family code word. If the person cannot give the word you agreed on, treat the request as not really them.
A real family member in a real emergency does not need a verification code or a gift card. A code is a key, so do not read one out or send one on.
Urgency and secrecy are the pressure. They are there to stop you from checking. A genuine relative will understand you taking a minute to call them back.
If you do not have a trusted number, reach them another way you already trust: a shared relative, their workplace, or an account you both use. Do not use any number or link from this message.
Set a family code word
A family code word is a short secret phrase that only your family knows. When a call or message feels off, you ask for the word. Someone faking a familiar voice will not have it.
The FBI recommends exactly this. In its December 2024 public service announcement on criminals using generative AI for financial fraud, it advises families to "Create a secret word or phrase with your family to verify their identity."
Pick something easy to remember and hard to guess, not a birthday or a pet name that is posted online. Agree on it in person, and do not keep it in a shared note or a chat.
Share this with your family
The best time to agree on a code word is before anything happens. Send this to your family group so everyone knows the plan.
What should I do if someone I know calls or messages asking for money?
Hang up and call them back on a number you already have, before you send anything. Do not use a number or link from the new message. A real relative will understand a short pause to verify. If you cannot reach them, check through someone else you both trust.
Can scammers really fake a familiar voice or face?
Yes. The FBI warns that criminals now use generative AI to clone voices and create convincing video, so a call that sounds or looks like a loved one is not proof it is them. That is why verifying through a known number, and a family code word, matters more than how real it seems.
What is a family code word and how do I use it?
It is a short secret phrase only your family knows, agreed in advance. When a call or message asks for money or help, you ask for the word. If the caller cannot give it, treat the request as not genuine. The FBI recommends setting one up with your family.
Can Hunch tell me if a video or voice is a deepfake?
No. Hunch does not analyze audio or video and will never label a specific clip as fake. What it can do is read the written message that usually follows the call, the text or email asking you to pay or send a code, and point to the exact ask so you can decide.
Common questions
The caller ID shows my daughter's name. Does that mean it is really her?
No. Caller ID and profile names can be spoofed, and a cloned voice can sound exactly right. Treat the name on the screen as a claim, not proof. Hang up and call back on the number you already have.
They say there has been an accident and there is no time to waste. What do I do?
Take the minute anyway. Urgency is the tool that stops people from checking. Hang up and call the person back on a trusted number, or call another family member who would know. A real emergency survives a two-minute verification.
They asked me not to tell anyone. Is that normal?
Secrecy is a warning sign. A genuine relative in trouble usually wants more help, not less. Being told to keep it quiet is a reason to check with someone else you trust, not a reason to stay silent.
They want a gift card code or a one-time code. Should I read it out?
No. A code is a key to an account or a payment. No real family member needs you to read out a verification code or buy gift cards. If a code is involved, stop and verify through a channel you already trust.
I already sent money or a code. What now?
It is not your fault, these are built to fool people. Act quickly: contact your bank or the payment service through their official app or a number you already have, change any shared passwords, and in the US you can report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.