Think Twice Before Saying “Yes”

Buying or selling a home puts your life into a weird version of hyperdrive. Your phone starts buzzing nonstop. Every day feels like a mix of excitement, deadlines, paperwork, appointments and surprise calls that show up right when you’re trying to eat lunch.

If you’ve been through a real estate deal in the GTA or GGH, you probably remember what that communication wave felt like. One minute you’re talking to your Realtor. Then your lawyer. Then your mortgage broker. Then the inspector. Then someone who just saw your listing on Instagram. Then your bank. Then your insurance provider. Then a random number that you answer just in case it’s something important.

In that chaos, it becomes really easy to trust a voice that sounds familiar. And that’s exactly what scammers are counting on.

Over the last couple of years, AI voice scams have exploded across Ontario. These scams are simple. Someone grabs a tiny clip of your voice from social media or a phone call. Then they use an AI tool to make a copy that sounds almost exactly like you. They use that fake voice to ask for money, pretend to be in trouble or approve a financial transaction you never agreed to.

For regular folks, this is annoying and dangerous.
For buyers and sellers in the middle of a real estate deal, this can be disastrous.

Today, I want to walk you through exactly what’s happening, how these scams work and how you can protect yourself and the people you love. Think of this as a calm, practical guide you can come back to anytime during your home search or sale.

And yes, Max, our Chief Entertainment Officer, fully approves this message.

So what exactly is AI voice cloning

Imagine someone records you saying a simple word like “hello” or “yes.” That’s all they need. From that tiny sample, AI tools generate full sentences in your voice.

They can make that clone cry, panic, whisper, shout or pretend to be calm. They can make it ask for a deposit to be transferred. They can make it mimic a family member saying they’re in trouble. They can make it sound like your lawyer confirming banking details.

It feels like something out of a movie.
But it’s happening right here in Ontario.

And the real danger isn’t the technology. It’s timing.

Why timing matters in real estate

When you’re buying or selling, here’s what your days look like:

• You’re answering calls from numbers you don’t recognize
• You’re talking about deposits. Big money
• You’re trying to juggle appointments and people
• You’re sharing personal details with multiple professionals
• You’re making decisions quickly because the timeline is tight
• You’re distracted, excited, stressed and overloaded

That combination creates the perfect opening for someone who wants to trick you.

Scammers know this. They’ve studied human behaviour more than the technology they use. Their goal is simple. They want you to react before you think.

Real estate creates the ideal environment for that reaction.

Let’s get straight to the point

Here are the 10 easiest ways to protect yourself.

And the best part. You don’t need tech knowledge. You don’t need apps. You don’t need a cybersecurity degree. You just need aware habits.

1. Stop saying “yes” to unknown callers

The word “yes” is the golden clip scammers want. They call, ask a question like “Can you hear me?” and wait for it.

Try answering with:
“This is Sushil speaking. Who’s calling?”

Short. Direct. Safe.

2. Set a family safe word today

This is your shield.

Pick a word that only your family knows. Could be a food, a pet name, a nonsense word. If you get a strange call that sounds like a family member but doesn’t feel right, ask for the safe word.

If they hesitate even one second, hang up.

This one trick has saved more people than any app or security tool.

3. Never react emotionally to a panicked voice

If someone is crying, shouting or demanding urgent money, your brain jumps into rescue mode.

Train yourself to pause for two seconds.
Take a breath.
Then hang up and call the real person back.

If they’re safe, you avoided a scam.
If they’re not, you’ll still reach them faster this way.

4. Limit clean voice clips online

You can absolutely keep posting. Just avoid long unedited audio clips. Add background noise. Keep voice notes short. Break up long videos with music.

Scammers look for clean studio quality voice. Not real day to day audio.

5. Always verify money details with your Realtor or lawyer

If you get a message saying:

“We changed the deposit account. Send to this new one.”

Stop right there.

Call your Realtor or your lawyer using the official number saved in your phone. Not the number from the message.

One quick call can prevent huge losses.

6. Don’t trust caller ID. Call back instead

Scammers can spoof numbers now. The caller ID might show your bank, your lawyer or even CRA. Doesn’t mean it’s them.

Hang up.
Call back using the number on their real website or the one in your contacts.

7. Don’t post real estate timelines publicly

Posts like:

• “Deposit tomorrow”
• “Offer night today”
• “Closing next week”
• “Moving Friday”

tell scammers exactly when you’ll be overwhelmed.

Share stories after the milestone has passed. It’s safer and still fun to post.

8. Teach older family members

Seniors are the number one target because they answer more calls and trust voices more easily.

Take five minutes to explain:

• Never say “yes”
• Always ask for the safe word
• Never send money based on a phone call
• Always call the real number back

One conversation can protect the entire household.

9. Never send money because of a call

No bank, lawyer, government office or Realtor will ever pressure you to send:

• e transfers
• gift cards
• crypto
• wire transfers
• emergency fees

on the spot over a phone call.

If someone pushes you, end the call.

10. Report suspicious numbers

Even if you didn’t fall for it, reporting helps everyone.

Canada’s official reporting site:
Canadian Anti Fraud Centre

They track patterns. That helps prevent bigger scams later.

Extra safety habits that take 10 seconds

These small habits add extra safety during your transaction:

• Don’t post your closing date
• Don’t click links in random texts about your listing
• Keep your Realtor in the loop if something feels off
• Use text or WhatsApp to confirm sensitive details
• Let calls go to voicemail when you’re unsure

Real estate already moves fast. You don’t need to rush more than necessary.

The five days when scammers strike the most

After watching patterns across the GTA, and after plenty of conversations with clients, here are the top danger days:

1. Offer day

2. Deposit day

3. Inspection day

4. Moving day

5. Closing day

These are days when you’re already juggling pressure. Scammers love pressure.

Knowing this, you can stay a little extra alert, talk to your family ahead of time and set some boundaries like:

“No one sends money today without confirming with the Realtor first.”

Small rule. Huge protection.

The five biggest red flags in Ontario right now

Here’s what people across the province are reporting the most:

• Unknown caller rushes you to send money
• Someone claims to be your lawyer with new deposit info
• Caller says a family member is in trouble but refuses details
• A utility company threatens to cut power before your move
• The voice sounds real, but the story feels wrong

Trust your gut.
If something seems off, it usually is.

Let’s talk about family protection

Real estate decisions affect everyone. Even your kids play a role because kids sometimes answer calls. Seniors play a role. Spouses play a role. Everyone hears bits of conversations.

Here’s a quick family plan you can set up:

• Pick a safe word
• Teach the “never send money from a call” rule
• Teach the “Who is calling please” habit
• Ask kids to bring you the phone if an adult isn’t home
• Encourage seniors to let unknown calls go to voicemail

Simple. Effective. Stress free.

Max also recommends treats as incentives, but that part might be optional.

How to report scams in Canada

If something feels suspicious, here’s what you can do:

• Report to the Canadian Anti Fraud Centre
• Inform your phone carrier
• Tell your Realtor or lawyer
• Notify your bank immediately if you shared details

Quietly ignoring scams only helps scammers.

Reporting protects your community.

Catch the Key thoughts

Buying or selling a home can be one of the most exciting chapters of your life. It can also be one of the busiest and most distracting. Scammers love distraction. But the good news is that with the habits in this guide, you can shut down most of their attempts before they even begin.

Real estate should feel like progress, not pressure. It should feel like moving forward, not looking over your shoulder. And with a little awareness, you can stay safe, calm and confident while making one of the biggest decisions of your life.

If you ever have questions or something doesn’t feel right during your transaction, reach out. I’m always happy to help. And Max is always here to supervise.