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THE latest tactic used by scammers – is silent calls to harvest voice data that would then be cloned with artificial intelligence tools and used to impersonate the victims.

The method is deceptively simple. A call comes in from an unknown number. When the recipient answers, the line remains silent.

According to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), this silence is intentional.

Simply accepting the call confirms that the number is active, placing the individual on a targeted call list. If the target speaks, even though briefly, the scammers are able to gather audio samples that can be cloned using AI tools.

The cloned voice may later be used to impersonate the target to, among others, ask family members for emergency funds, request workplace transfers or even to bypass voice-verification systems used by certain organisations.

What makes this method especially worrying is that very little voice data is needed for the scam to work convincingly. Research in machine learning shows that just a few seconds of audio can be enough for algorithms to reconstruct a believable synthetic voice.

This poses risks to the unwary public, especially senior citizens who may be less aware of how rapidly scams have evolved and may instinctively respond out of trust or fear.

The MCMC has advised Malaysians to take a counterintuitive but effective approach: if you receive a call from an unfamiliar number, keep quiet and wait. Say something only after the caller identifies himself/herself clearly and you recognise who he/she is.

If the silence continues, hang up immediately. Doing this deprives scammers of the sound metadata needed for AI cloning and also prevents your number from being further targeted.

It is equally important to be mindful of follow-up calls and messages. Scammers often attempt multiple numbers within the same day once they confirm a target.

One should avoid returning missed calls from suspicious or international numbers, and always verify urgent or emotional requests through a trusted channel, such as calling the family member directly on their known number.

Beyond individual vigilance, we must strengthen our collective digital resilience. Family members should educate their older relatives about AI-driven impersonation scams.

Employers should incorporate these threats into their cybersecurity briefings.

Digital literacy and AI safety should also be integrated into the school curriculum so that the younger generation can navigate emerging risks confidently.

Awareness, caution and community education remain our best defences. In this new environment, a moment of silence is more than golden – it is protective.

Dr Wu Shin Ling

School of Psychology

Sunway University

The views expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of the Daily Express. If you have something to share, write to us at: Forum@dailyexpress.com.my