🗝️ Pick a Family Safe Word This Week: A Calm Way to Know That “Help Me” Call Is Really Your Loved One

Or: A Voice Can Be Copied. A Word Only Your Family Knows Can’t Be Looked Up.

By Thomas Seest, Dunlap.Today · Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Halloween is ten days off, and folks all over the Valley are picking out masks and costumes. Here’s a gentle reminder that scammers wear costumes too, only theirs are made of sound. On Oct. 15, the FBI warned that scammers are using artificial intelligence (AI) to make “highly realistic voices” that pretend to be candidates, government offices and even “trusted contacts.” And on Oct. 19, 3B Media News in Crossville reported that Tennessee’s securities regulators are warning residents about “A.I.-enabled impersonation scams.” That’s not a reason to be afraid of your phone. It’s a good reason to set up one simple family habit before you ever need it.

Here’s what’s in this sixteenth Tech Help for Everyone: why voice copying is in the news this week, how to pick a family safe word, how to use it: ask for it, then hang up and call back, the red flags that give a fake call away, and what to do and who to call if one rings your phone.

The FBI warning and the safe-word advice from the FBI, FCC and FTC are national. The Tennessee warning is statewide. None of this is a Sequatchie Valley news report, and nothing here means anything has gone wrong locally. It works the same in Dunlap as anywhere else.

⏱️ What this means for you in 30 seconds

• Pick a family safe word. A word or short phrase only your family knows. The FBI and FCC both suggest it.
• Share it in person. Around the supper table, not on Facebook.
• On any “emergency” call, ask for the word. Let the caller say it first. Don’t give it away.
• Then hang up and call back on the number already saved in your phone. The FTC says, “Don’t trust the voice.”
• Never send money by gift card, wire, payment app or cryptocurrency because of a scary call.
• Remember: A real emergency can wait two minutes for you to call back.

🗞️ Why Copied Voices Are in the News This Week

On Oct. 15, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) put out a public warning about scams tied to the 2026 midterm election. Along the way, it said scammers “exploit artificial intelligence (AI) tools to generate highly realistic voices, images, and written messages that impersonate candidates, campaigns, government entities, and trusted contacts.” That’s national news.

Closer to home, on Oct. 19 3B Media News in Crossville reported that the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance’s Securities Division is warning residents to stay alert, naming digital asset schemes, social media fraud, “A.I.-enabled impersonation scams” and efforts to take advantage of seniors. That’s a statewide warning. And on Oct. 16, Britain’s Independent newspaper ran advice from identity expert Aaron Painter, whose own grandmother nearly fell for a copied-voice call. What saved her, he said, was one small detail only the real family would know.

What it means for you: This isn’t brand-new. The FTC first warned about voice cloning in family emergency calls back in March 2023. But the tools keep getting better, so the old trick of “listening for something off” doesn’t work as well as it used to. A safe word gives you a test that doesn’t depend on your ears at all. It’s like the porch light you leave on for family: everybody who belongs knows the signal.

👉 Read more (FBI IC3: Oct. 15, 2026 public service announcement) · 3B Media News: Tennessee regulators’ warning (Oct. 19) · The Independent: How to spot deepfake calls (Oct. 16)

🗝️ Step One: Pick a Word Only Your Family Would Know

The FBI’s tip list on AI scams starts with this: “Create a secret word or phrase with your family to verify their identity.” The FCC says the same about grandparent scams: use a “safe word” that only you and your family know and have chosen ahead of time. If the caller can’t come up with it, it may be a scammer.

A few easy rules for picking one:

• Make it something no stranger could guess or look up. Skip pet names, street names, birthdays, the high school mascot or anything you’ve ever posted online.
• Silly is fine. “Purple biscuit,” “Uncle Ray’s tractor” or “rhubarb Tuesday” all work, as long as your family will remember it.
• Or use a shared-memory question. The expert in the Independent also suggested a question about something that’s never been posted online, like what was really in the casserole at the 2019 reunion.
• Tell people face to face or on a call you placed yourself, and keep it off social media.
• Include the folks who’d call in a pinch: grandkids, grown children, the cousin who drives a truck across three states.
• Write it somewhere private if your memory is like mine, such as inside a kitchen cabinet door, not on the fridge where company can see it.

The FBI also suggests keeping social media accounts private and limiting followers to people you know, so there are fewer clips of your voice and face for a scammer to copy.

What it means for you: It’s like the old family knock on the back door: two quick, a pause, then one. Anybody can knock. Only family knocks that way.

👉 Read more (FBI IC3: Criminals use generative AI to facilitate fraud) · FCC: “Grandparent” scams get more sophisticated

📞 Step Two: Ask for the Word, Then Hang Up and Call Back

Here’s how to use it when the phone rings and a familiar voice says they’re in trouble:

• Stay calm and ask: “What’s our word?” Let them say it. Don’t hint or offer it (“Is it purple biscuit?”).
• Whether or not they get it right, hang up and call back. The FTC’s advice is short: “Don’t trust the voice.” Call the person who supposedly called you, using a phone number you know is theirs.
• Use the number saved in your contacts, not the one that just called and not a number the caller gives you. The FCC says to write down the details, hang up and call the relative using the number saved in your phone.
• Can’t reach them? The FTC and FCC both say to try other family members or friends who can get in touch with them.

A safe word is a great first check, but it shouldn’t be the only one. In an Oct. 7 Fox News “CyberGuy” report, a California mother who was fooled by a call she believes used a copy of her daughter’s voice said she now recommends a safe word, and the reporter’s advice was not to make it your family’s only way to check. The call back is the second lock on the door.

What it means for you: Think of it like a check at the feed store. The clerk doesn’t just look at your face; she looks at your ID too. Two quick checks, and everybody can relax.

👉 Read more (FTC: Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes) · FCC: Don’t be fooled · Fox News CyberGuy report (Oct. 7)

🚩 Step Three: Know the Red Flags That Give a Fake Call Away

The voice may be copied, but the scammer’s script hasn’t changed much. The FCC and the expert in the Independent point to the same warning signs:

• Hurry. “I need the money right now.”
• Secrecy. The FCC says scammers often ask, “Please don’t let Mom and Dad know.”
• A handoff. The caller may pass the phone to someone pretending to be a lawyer or court official who wants payment, the FCC says.
• Odd payment. Wiring money, a mobile payment app, gift cards, money orders, or someone offering to meet you to pick up cash. The FCC calls all of these red flags.
• Asking for codes or passwords. The Independent‘s expert lists requests for passwords or one-time codes as a warning sign.
• A new number. “I lost my phone, this is my friend’s.” The expert also flags a new number or account as a warning sign.

One more thing: the FCC says scammers can “spoof” caller ID so a call looks like it’s coming from someone you trust. A familiar name on the screen isn’t proof by itself. (We covered free spam-call filters back on Oct. 17.)

What it means for you: It’s like a stray dog wearing a nice collar. The collar looks right, but if it won’t come when you call its name, it’s not yours. Watch what the caller asks for, not just how they sound.

👉 Read more (FCC: Recognizing red flags) · The Independent: Warning signs it’s a scam

🛟 Step Four: If One Rings Your Phone, Here’s Who to Call

• If you think someone is truly in danger, call 911.
• If it’s a scam call, the FCC says to hang up and report it to local law enforcement. Use your police department’s or sheriff’s office’s regular number.
• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and to the FBI at ic3.gov.
• Age 60 or older, or helping someone who is? The U.S. Justice Department’s free National Elder Fraud Hotline is 1-833-FRAUD-11 (1-833-372-8311), Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern (9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central).
• If an “investment” pitch is involved, Tennessee’s Securities Division takes calls at (615) 741-2947 or toll-free (800) 863-9117.
• Already sent money? The Fox News CyberGuy report says to contact your bank or the money transfer company right away and ask whether the payment can be stopped.

What it means for you: Nobody should feel embarrassed. These calls are built to fool smart, careful people. Telling someone is like calling the neighbors when you spot a fox near the henhouse. It helps everybody down the road.

👉 Read more (U.S. DOJ: National Elder Fraud Hotline) · ReportFraud.ftc.gov · FBI IC3

✅ Your Wednesday Safe Word Checklist

• ✅ Pick a family safe word or shared-memory question this week.
• ✅ Keep it off the internet: no pet names, birthdays or anything you’ve posted.
• ✅ Share it in person with kids, grandkids and anyone who might call in a pinch.
• ✅ Write it somewhere private if you’re likely to forget.
• ✅ Ask, don’t tell: “What’s our word?” Let the caller say it first.
• ✅ Hang up and call back on the number already saved in your phone.
• ✅ Can’t reach them? Call another family member or friend.
• ✅ Never pay by gift card, wire, payment app, crypto or cash pickup because of a scary call.
• ✅ Remember that caller ID can be faked.
• ✅ Save these numbers: 1-833-372-8311 (Elder Fraud Hotline) and ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Practical rule: Pick a word, ask for it, then hang up and call back on the number you already have.

— Dunlap.Today

📚 Plain-English Tech Glossary

• Artificial intelligence (AI): Computer programs that can do things like write, make pictures or copy voices.
• Voice cloning: Using AI to make a fake copy of a real person’s voice. The FTC says a scammer may only need a short clip, such as one posted online.
• Family safe word: A private word or phrase your family agrees on ahead of time to prove a call is really one of you.
• Shared-memory question: A question about something only your family would know and that has never been posted online.
• Caller ID spoofing: Faking the name or number that shows up on your phone so a call looks like it’s from someone you trust.
• Grandparent scam / family emergency scam: A call pretending to be a relative in trouble who needs money fast.
• One-time code: A short number a bank or app texts you to prove it’s really you signing in. Never read it to a caller.
• IC3: The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, where you can report online and phone fraud.
• PSA: Public service announcement, an official warning shared with the public.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can somebody really copy my grandson’s voice?

Yes. The FTC says a scammer may need only a short clip of a person’s voice, which could come from something posted online, plus a voice-cloning program. That’s exactly why a safe word helps. It doesn’t matter how good the copy sounds if the caller doesn’t know the word.

Do I have to stop answering my phone?

No. Most calls are just what they seem. The safe word and the call back are for the rare call that asks for money or secrets in a hurry.

What if the caller knows the word?

Still hang up and call back on the number you have. Two checks are better than one. If you think someone else learned your word, pick a new one.

What if my loved one is too upset to remember the word?

That’s why the call back matters. Call them on their saved number or reach another family member. A real emergency can wait the two minutes it takes.

Isn’t it rude to hang up on family?

Not at all. Tell your family ahead of time that this is the plan. Then nobody’s feelings get hurt, and everybody knows you’re just being careful.

Is this a Sequatchie Valley problem?

This article isn’t reporting anything local. The FBI warning is national, the Tennessee warning is statewide, and the safe-word habit works the same everywhere.

Where do I report a scam call?

ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI at ic3.gov. If you’re 60 or older, the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 can help you through it. If someone may be in danger, call 911.

🔗 Other Resources

• FBI IC3: Scammers Exploit 2026 U.S. Midterm Election to Perpetrate Multiple Fraud Schemes (Oct. 15, 2026)
• FBI IC3: Criminals Use Generative Artificial Intelligence to Facilitate Financial Fraud (safe-word tip)
• FCC: “Grandparent” Scams Get More Sophisticated
• FTC: Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes
• 3B Media News: Tennessee Regulators Issue Warning on Digital and A.I. Financial Scams (Oct. 19, 2026)
• The Independent: AI voice scams mimic family and friends (Oct. 16, 2026)
• Fox News CyberGuy: A mother’s AI voice scam story and 7 ways to protect your family (Oct. 7, 2026)
• U.S. DOJ: National Elder Fraud Hotline, 1-833-372-8311
• ReportFraud.ftc.gov: Tell the FTC about a scam

🌻 One Word, One Call Back, and a Lot Less Worry

You don’t have to become an expert at spotting fake voices. Nobody can, and the experts say not to try. Just pick a word with your family this week, maybe over Sunday dinner or the next time the grandkids come by for Halloween candy. Ask for it if a scary call ever comes, then hang up and call back on the number you know. That’s all. It’s simple, it’s free, and it lets you answer the phone with a clear head.

Keep learning, keep exploring and keep your cool. Read Dunlap.Today for calm, clear Valley news, and find local folks who can help with phones and computers anytime on Dunlap.Directory.