Set a Family/Team Code Word

This is a low-effort, high-value safeguard specifically against voice cloning and impersonation scams. Agree, in advance and in person or over an already-trusted channel, on a simple word or phrase that any real family member or team member could produce if asked — and that a scammer, even with a cloned voice, would have no way of knowing.

The value isn't that it's unbreakable security — it's that it's fast and low-friction in exactly the high-pressure moment these scams are designed to create. When someone is panicking you with an urgent story, asking for the code word takes seconds and either resolves the situation immediately or confirms your suspicion.

For teams, this works well paired with a rule that any request to bypass normal approval for a payment or credential change requires the code word or a callback — no exceptions, including from "the CEO."

• Setup: Agree on it once, in person or over a trusted channel — not over the phone with someone you're not sure about.
• Keep it simple: Something easy to remember and say under stress.
• For teams: Pair it with a no-exceptions rule for payment or credential requests.
• Change it occasionally: Especially if it's ever been shared outside the trusted group.