In addition to manipulating phone numbers to make calls appear as if they are from Grays Harbor PUD, scammers are now using artificial intelligence to create messages that mimic the voices of PUD staff, the Washington State PUD said on Oct. 28.
“If scammers can get a hold of a short voice sample of a person, they can us AI software to create a message that sounds like it was recorded by that person,” said Grays Harbor PUD Communications and Government Relations Director Ian Cope.
“In this case, they use the technology to contact customers with messages that sound authentic, hoping that the customer will be fooled into sending money,” he said.
“Fake messages like these make it all the more important for customers to be on guard and to check their accounts themselves," said PUD Customer Service Supervisor Megan Warner.
If customers get an unsolicited phone call from the PUD threatening to shut off power and demanding the customer send money electronically or with gift cards, PUD Customer Service Supervisor Megan Warner said customers should call the PUD Customer Service office to report the call and to check on their account status.
