Criminals are using AI to clone people’s voices and set up unauthorised direct debits over the phone, National Trading Standards (NTS) has warned.

NTS said “advanced” voice cloning was part of an organised criminal operation that appeared to be targeting older people.

Fraudsters began the process by asking victims to participate in a so-called “lifestyle survey” phone call, which was actually designed to gather personal, health and financial details.

The criminals then used this information to create AI-generated voice clones to simulate consent for direct debits.

The voice clones could then be used to set up payments with banks and other legitimate businesses and financial providers without the victim’s knowledge, NTS said.

Victims often did not realise payments were being taken, it warned.

Latest figures from NTS suggests that UK adults now receive an average of seven scam calls or texts per month, with about one in five (21%) receiving them most days and 9% receiving them every day.

NTS said it blocked almost 21 million scam phone calls and shut down 2,000 numbers in a six-month period.

Louise Baxter, head of the NTS scams team, said: “What we’re seeing is a deeply disturbing combination of old and new: traditional phone scams supported by disturbing new techniques.

“Criminals are using AI not just to deceive victims, but to trick legitimate systems into processing fraudulent payments.

“This is no longer just a nuisance – it’s a co-ordinated, sophisticated operation targeting some of the most situationally vulnerable consumers in society.

“We urge everyone to speak to friends and relatives about scam calls, check bank statements regularly and report anything suspicious.”

John Herriman, chief executive at the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), said: “This alarming new twist in phone-based fraud shows just how quickly criminals are exploiting emerging technologies to prey on the public.

“Voice cloning takes scam calls to a sinister new level, making it even harder for legitimate businesses and consumers to distinguish real interactions from fraudulent ones.

“Trading Standards teams across the UK are working tirelessly to disrupt these operations but we need the public to stay alert, talk to loved ones about the risks and report anything suspicious.”

Which? consumer law spokeswoman Lisa Webb said: “You shouldn’t have to worry about your own voice being used against you in this way but sadly we’ve reached a stage where every phone call must be treated with suspicion. If you get any calls out of the blue, don’t be afraid to hang up, genuine callers won’t mind.

“If you see any direct debits or transactions on your bank account that you don’t recognise, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card. You should also report any scams to Police Scotland or Report Fraud to investigate.

“It’s also worth making sure you’re registered with the telephone preference service to opt out of unsolicited marketing calls, that way you’ll know that any unexpected marketing or sales calls are either a rogue company or a scammer.”

Scotland risks being left behind in the world unless the Government urgently ends its opposition to nuclear energy, a coalition of businesses and campaign groups has warned.

Scotland for Nuclear Energy, launched by campaign groups Nuclear for Scotland and Britain Remade, said Scotland could miss out on jobs and economic growth as other countries invest in new nuclear technology.

While energy is reserved to Westminster, powers over planning has given the SNP an effective veto over nuclear energy – something the party has long opposed but which is backed by Labour and the Tories.

Scotland for Nuclear Energy claimed the country could build on its nuclear heritage to install new nuclear reactors in a move it said would complement, rather than compete with, renewable energy.

Sam Richards, chief executive officer of Britain Remade, said: “Scotland has done brilliantly with renewables, but the wind doesn’t always blow when we need it.

“Nuclear is clean, reliable baseload power that keeps the lights on, stabilises bills and attracts huge investment.

“At a time when countries across Europe are embracing nuclear as a safe, clean and reliable part of the energy mix, the Scottish Government’s refusal to even consider it is deeply irresponsible.

“They should drop their outdated opposition to nuclear power. If they don’t, it will be the people of Scotland that miss out.”

The group said while Scotland still has four registered nuclear sites, only one – Torness nuclear plant – is operation and generating power, providing what it described as “clean power” to two million homes.

It pointed to polling which shows majority support for nuclear energy.

Trudy Morris, chief executive of North Highland Chamber of Commerce, also backed the campaign.

She said: “Here in the north Highlands, we have lived the reality of nuclear energy for decades and the transformative impact of NRS Dounreay on our economy, skills base and communities is impossible to ignore.

“It has supported thousands of high-value jobs, invested in our supply chains and created expertise that continues to benefit the region.

“The chamber supports a mixed energy economy. Renewables are central to Scotland’s future but they work best alongside clean, reliable baseload power.

“With the highest safety standards, nuclear can complement renewables, strengthen energy security, cut emissions and ensure communities like ours continue to share in the economic benefits.”

The Scottish Campaign to Resist the Atomic Menace said nuclear energy was a “distraction”.

Pete Roche, spokesman for the group, said: “As renewable energy-rich Scotland heads towards an election, it is all too predictable that nuclear lobbyists are again arguing that Scotland needs new nuclear power stations.

“They misleadingly present them as cheap, clean and ‘green’ – yet this is as far from the truth as it was 70 years ago when it was promised that nuclear energy would be ‘too cheap to meter’.

“An energy system built around renewables is already happening. Meeting all our needs this way is not just possible but it’s quicker and cheaper without the costly distraction of new nuclear.

“Low-cost renewable energy combined with storage, flexible power to balance the grid and smart local energy systems will make the best use of our incredible renewable resources and engineering know-how.

“Why dilute that by backing eye-wateringly expensive nuclear power stations?”

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.