Protect Your Solon Family from AI Graduation Scams

It is May in Solon, and you can feel the graduation buzz everywhere. From the 'Senior 2026' signs on front yards near Solon High to the busy tables at our local cafes, families are celebrating a huge milestone. We are all snapping photos and capturing videos of our grads to share on social media. But this year, as we celebrate the Class of 2026, there is a new tech-savvy threat knocking on our digital doors. At Solon PC, we have been helping our neighbors stay safe for over 30 years, and we want to make sure your family’s celebration stays joyful.

Scammers have found a sneaky way to use those proud graduation posts against us. Using advanced AI, they can take just a few seconds of audio from a graduation speech, a TikTok, or a 'we did it!' video and create a perfect clone of your child’s or grandchild’s voice. They then call a family member—usually a grandparent—pretending to be the grad in a crisis. It is a terrifying trick called the 'AI Graduation Call,' and it is happening across the country this spring.

The Scammer's Script

The scenario is usually high-pressure. You might get a call from an unknown number, and when you answer, you hear your grandchild’s voice. They sound frantic, saying they have been in a minor car accident or have been detained and need money for bail immediately via a wire transfer or a digital payment app. Because the voice sounds exactly like them, and the caller knows they are currently graduating or traveling, it feels incredibly real. According to the Federal Trade Commission, imposter scams like these are becoming increasingly difficult to spot as technology improves.

So, how do we protect our loved ones from such a convincing scam? The most effective tool is not a complex piece of software—it is a 'Digital Safe Word.'

Why You Need a Digital Safe Word

A Digital Safe Word is a simple, secret word or phrase known only to your immediate family. Think of it like a family password. It should be something easy to remember but impossible for a stranger to guess. Do not use something obvious like your street name or the high school mascot. Instead, pick an inside joke or the name of a favorite childhood toy that is not mentioned online.

If anyone in the family ever calls from an unrecognized number asking for urgent help, simply ask for the safe word. A scammer, even with the best AI voice clone, will not have that information. If the person on the other end cannot give it to you, hang up immediately. It sounds simple, but it is a powerful way to cut through the panic and stay in control.

More Ways to Stay Safe This Season

Beyond the safe word, here are a few more ways to keep your Solon family secure this graduation season:

• Lock Down Your Privacy: Consider keeping graduation videos private or shared only with 'friends' rather than the general public. This limits the audio scammers can harvest.
• Verify the Story: If you get a suspicious call, hang up and call the person back on their known cell phone number. Do not rely on caller ID, as scammers can easily 'spoof' numbers to make them look local.
• Household Training: Make sure grandparents and kids alike know these scams exist. Our Security Awareness Training is a great way to get everyone in the family on the same page.

At Solon PC, we believe technology should make your life better, not more stressful. Whether you are running a home-based business or just want to keep your family’s personal data safe, we are here to provide straightforward cybersecurity and IT support in Solon. We have seen a lot change in three decades, but our commitment to our neighbors remains the same.

If you are worried about your home network security or want help setting up Backup & Disaster Recovery so those graduation photos are always protected, give us a call at 440-349-5555. Let’s make sure your graduation season is remembered for all the right reasons. You can also reach out to us directly at Solon PC Contact to schedule a friendly chat about your small business IT or home office needs.