I have had a couple of calls recently on the ‘landline’ (now VOIP) number purportedly from a well-spoken British male. I began by responding to the questions it asked, supposedly about domestic energy efficiency. However, when I asked for one of the questions to be repeated the voice just asked the next question it had obviously, I then realised, been programmed to ask. I politely stated (not that it mattered to an AI Bot) that I was not interested and terminated the call. A second call arrived this evening with a well-spoken British female voice which began asking the same questions to which I responded ‘you are AN AI bot aren’t you?’. The program then announced the next question, ‘go on, admit it, you are an AI bot’ I said now with a smile on my face. The next question was being asked as I put the phone down.

I don’t think this was a scam as such, although it may have gone on to elicit personal information but maybe just be an automated way of collecting information. So, just be aware that such things are happening and can be checked by just asking for the voice to repeat the first question. If it merely moves on, then it is most certainly an AI generated call. Obviously, these things will learn so maybe the best thing to do is hang-up on any unsolicited call unless it’s from someone you know or who you have dealt with previously.