ClarityCheck survey data across five countries shows a growing reliance on verification tools as synthetic voices and spoofed numbers spread.
Over the past six months, public awareness of AI-enabled fraud has intensified. According to a new multi-country survey of ClarityCheck users, 32% of respondents said they had encountered a suspected AI voice scam, with many describing the experience as disorienting and emotionally taxing. The spread of synthetic audio has made traditional signals of trust, such as familiar tones or accents, far less reliable.
The survey, conducted with 2,412 adults across the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, India, and Australia, reveals a significant behavioural shift. 68% of participants reported using reverse lookup tools before responding to unknown calls or messages, describing the practice as a form of “emotional armor” that helps them regain confidence in the face of uncertainty. Among those who verified first, 41% said they were less likely to call back or engage with a suspicious number, while 52% felt they were able to act more quickly to protect themselves compared to moments when they had not checked.
A typical scenario reported by respondents involved receiving a call from someone claiming to be a family member in distress, followed minutes later by a text message urging immediate action. For many, the emotional pressure of such layered contact felt overwhelming, yet those who paused to run a quick verification said the step often gave them enough distance to recognize the inconsistencies.
Patterns of response time are also changing. Nearly four in ten respondents said they now verify within the first minute of receiving an unknown contact, a marked rise from self-reported habits just a year ago. These “rapid verifiers” were also more likely to identify inconsistencies such as profile images reused across platforms or domains registered only days earlier.
The blending of channels has added another layer of concern. More than half of survey participants who experienced a scam attempt said it involved at least two forms of communication within half an hour, for example, a synthetic voice call followed by a text or direct message. This multi-channel approach increases the pressure on recipients to act quickly, making pre-emptive verification a crucial buffer.
Authorities in multiple regions have warned about the surge in voice-clone scams, particularly those exploiting family emergencies or impersonating financial institutions. The ClarityCheck survey findings complement these alerts by highlighting how everyday users are adapting their behaviour in response. Verification is no longer viewed as an afterthought but as a first step, part of a new etiquette of digital caution.
As synthetic voices become easier to generate and numbers easier to spoof, the survey suggests that individuals are increasingly relying on verification not only as a practical safeguard but also as a way to reduce the emotional toll of uncertainty. The shift underscores a growing recognition that fraud prevention is not just technical; it is also psychological, reshaping how people engage with the unknown in their daily communications.
About ClarityCheck:
ClarityCheck is an all-in-one background verification tool for phone numbers, emails, and images. Designed for everyday digital safety, ClarityCheck helps users instantly identify unknown contacts, trace suspicious profiles, and check for potential fraud across phone, email, and photo input. By combining reverse lookup and OSINT technologies, it offers a streamlined way to verify identities and protect yourself online.
ClarityCheck is an all-in-one background verification tool for phone numbers, emails, and images. Designed for everyday digital safety, ClarityCheck helps users instantly identify unknown contacts, trace suspicious profiles, and check for potential fraud across phone, email, and photo input. By combining reverse lookup and OSINT technologies, it offers a streamlined way to verify identities and protect yourself online.
Media Contact:
ClarityCheck
pr@claritycheck.com
Lauren Fellows
PR Manager
ClarityCheck
pr@claritycheck.com
Lauren Fellows
PR Manager