- Home
- AI Scam Glossary
- Family codeword
Family codeword
safe word · family password
What it means
The codeword moves identity proof away from a voice, face, or writing style that AI can imitate and toward private knowledge an impersonator does not have. A rotating set of three words is harder to guess and becomes useless after it changes.
How to protect yourself
- Choose words that are not visible on social media.
- Practice asking “What are the words?” before a crisis.
- Never give hints or confirm a scammer’s guess.
Explore the topic guides
Related terms
Related Trust Onion reading
AI Can Clone Your Grandchild's Voice. It Can't Know the Words.
AI voice cloning has made grandparent scams harder to detect. One mother lost $5,400. A simple family codeword can stop the scam in seconds.
Case studyAI Voice Scam Traps California Mom in 5-Hour Kidnapping Nightmare
A California mother lost $5,400 after scammers cloned her daughter's voice and staged a fake kidnapping. How three rotating codewords could have stopped it.
Case studyAI Voice Clone Mimics Teen's Voice in $7,500 Ransom Hoax
A Buffalo mother received a call cloning her 16-year-old son's voice, demanding $7,500 cash to prevent his murder. How families can protect themselves.
BlogThe Secret Codewords That Scammers Hate
A Buffalo mother got a call from her 'son' demanding $7,500. It was AI. Here's the one thing scammers can't fake: a family codeword.
BlogHow AI Voice Scams Work (And What Actually Stops Them)
Group-IB research breaks down how deepfake voice scams work in 2025. Learn how AI clones trusted voices and why three rotating codewords can stop the attack.
BlogAI Voice Cloning Is Making Grandparent Scams Scarier
AI voice cloning lets scammers impersonate grandchildren using audio from social media. Here's how seniors can protect themselves with a simple family codeword.
Cite this page
Family codeword — Trust Onion, September 17, 2026. https://trustonion.io/glossary/family-codeword