Federal officials are warning people to be on alert for a new version of an old scam.

Scammers could use artificial intelligence or AI – basically, the simulation of human intelligence by machines, particularly computers – to clone the voice of a loved one. The scammer then uses AI to contact a family member of friend, claiming they need money, typically because they’ve been in a wreck or are in jail.

The traditional version of the scam involves calling someone and posing as a loved one and claiming to need money. The AI version could be even more convincing, officials said.

“Artificial intelligence is no longer a far-fetched idea out of a sci-fi movie. We’re living with it, here and now. A scammer could use AI to clone the voice of your loved one. All he needs is a short audio clip of your family member’s voice — which he could get from content posted online — and a voice-cloning program. When the scammer calls you, he’ll sound just like your loved one,” the Federal Trade Commission warned.

READ MORE: California bill would end Alabama travel ban

How to tell if the call is real or a family member needs help? FTC offers these tips:

• Don’t trust the voice. Call the person who supposedly contacted you and verify the story. Use a phone number you know is theirs. If you can’t reach your loved one, try to contact them through another family member or their friends.
• Scammers ask you to pay or send money in ways that make it hard to get your money back. If the caller says to wire money, send cryptocurrency, or buy gift cards and give them the card numbers and PINs, those could be signs of a scam.

Think you’ve been a victim of a scam or know someone who has? Report it to the FTC.