Voice Channel AI Disruption (VCAD), a cyberattack technique where artificial intelligence (AI) is used to manipulate voice communication channels, particularly in customer support systems. Unlike traditional robocalls or scam calls, VCAD attacks use AI-powered technologies like voice cloning, caller ID spoofing and social engineering to engage in prolonged conversations, disrupting business operations and increasing financial risk.
Cybercriminals are leveraging VCAD to cripple customer support operations, inflicting both financial and reputational harm. Unlike conventional phone scams, VCAD employs AI-driven, low-volume, long-duration calls to overwhelm businesses, delaying genuine customers and increasing operational downtime.
How VCAD works
Attackers utilise AI-powered voice cloning, caller ID spoofing, and social engineering to engage customer support teams in prolonged conversations. These tactics:
Jam phone lines, preventing real customers from reaching support.
Manipulate agents into divulging sensitive information.
Disrupt business operations, causing service delays and customer frustration.
Industries at risk
Banking & Financial Services: Fraudsters impersonate executives or customers to authorize illicit transactions.
Healthcare: AI-driven calls inundate hospital helplines, delaying emergency responses.
Retail & E-commerce: Attackers exploit return policies, request refunds, and manipulate loyalty programs.
Telecommunications: Scammers engage in lengthy calls to bypass fraud detection, enabling SIM-swapping and identity theft.
The role of VoIP in VCAD attacks
Most VCAD scams exploit Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), enabling scammers to conduct extended calls without detection. Unlike traditional robocall scams, VCAD prioritises prolonged conversations, draining resources, disrupting workflows, and weakening cybersecurity defenses.
The rising danger of VCAD
According to the Global State of Scams Report 2024, scams resulted in $1.03 trillion in global losses in 2023. As AI technology rapidly evolves, VCAD threats are becoming more sophisticated and harder to detect.
To combat this growing risk, businesses must adopt AI-driven fraud detection, enhance authentication measures, and train employees to recognize VCAD tactics. As AI-powered fraud continues to advance, awareness remains the first line of defense against these high-impact cyber threats.
