As AI-powered impersonation fraud reaches record levels, a free app lets families and friends verify who is really on the other end of a call, text, or photo in seconds
SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 03, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trust Onion, a free family safety app built to counter the fast-growing threat of AI voice cloning, is now available on the App Store and Google Play. The app gives families three rotating, private codewords that a real family member can say, but a scammer using a cloned voice cannot, turning a moment of panic or doubt of legitimacy into a question that’s answered in seconds.
What Problem Does Trust Onion Solve?
Trust Onion stops AI voice-cloning scams by giving families and groups three private codewords a real member can say and an impersonator cannot. AI voice cloning has turned a decades-old scam into a far more personal threat: using only a short clip of audio pulled from a video or voicemail, bad actors can now generate a convincing imitation of a family member’s voice, then use it to stage an urgent, frightening phone call asking for money or secrecy. Consumer advocates and law enforcement agencies across the country have documented a rising wave of these calls, most often aimed at older adults with grandchildren or adult children.
How Much Is AI-Enabled Fraud Costing Families?
The scale of the problem is large and growing quickly. Older Americans reported $7.7 billion in fraud losses in 2025, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, up 59% from $4.9 billion the year before, as the number of senior victims climbed 37% to more than 201,000. Because most fraud goes unreported, the Federal Trade Commission estimates the true annual cost to older adults could run as high as $81.5 billion. AI tools, including voice cloning, are a growing share of that total, and researchers expect their use in scams to keep accelerating. While older adults remain the most heavily targeted group, impersonation scams increasingly reach people of all ages. Friend groups, clubs, sports teams, and workplaces are all potential targets, and Trust Onion publishes a dedicated guide to protecting friend groups and clubs.
To see how fast the problem is growing, Trust Onion tracks it in real time through its daily blog, case studies, and Family Scam Pulse page, a live view of AI scam activity affecting families.
“We kept reading the same advice everywhere: hang up, or agree on a secret family codeword,” said Jesse Seaver, co-founder and CEO of Trust Onion. “That’s hard to act on when you’re panicking, and it’s even harder for someone whose memory isn’t what it used to be. We wanted a solution people could actually reach for in the moment, not something they had to remember from eight months ago.”
How Do Trust Onion’s Codewords Work?
Two or more people create a “Group” on the app, and then Trust Onion’s three codewords rotate automatically every 60 seconds for that private group. The codewords are generated locally on each family member’s device. Nothing is transmitted over the internet or stored on Trust Onion’s servers, so the words can’t be intercepted, and the app works even when offline. Families can also request other members send them a “Proofie,” which is a timestamped live selfie that confirms the member is who they say they are, and where they say they are, adding a second layer of verification for higher-stakes situations. The technology behind Proofies is patent-pending and exclusive to Trust Onion.
“Our layered approach mirrors how trust actually works in families,” said Jesse. “Start with three words for a quick check. Add a photo when more certainty is needed. Every layer is designed to be simple enough for a grandparent to use with confidence, because that’s exactly who we built it for.”
How Do I Set Up Trust Onion?
Setting up a group takes about a minute: users download the app, scan a QR code to join their circle, and their rotating codewords appear immediately, with no account or technical setup required. Trust Onion also includes an in-the-moment Scam Check tool that helps someone on a suspicious call assess the risk, and a one-tap way to alert a family member for help.
Is Trust Onion Free, and Does It Work Internationally?
Trust Onion is free for individuals and families, with no paywall, trial period, or credit card required, and it is built to work for families anywhere in the world. The app supports multiple languages and functions independent of any single country’s phone or data network, making it as useful for a family spread across continents as for one down the street. The company also offers a version of the technology for businesses, including insurers, credit unions, utilities, and sports teams, to deploy under their own brand, as well as an internal-verification option for teams handling high-stakes requests.
Where Can I Download Trust Onion?
Trust Onion is available now, free, on the App Store and Google Play. More information, including a short video walkthrough, is available at trustonion.io.
About Trust Onion
Trust Onion is a free family and friends safety app that protects against AI-powered voice cloning and impersonation scams. Families and friends set up rotating codewords that only they know. Asking one question, “What are the words?”, settles whether a call, text, or photo is really from a loved one. Trust Onion is a product of Alibi Ledger, LLC. Learn more at trustonion.io.
Media Contact
Trust Onion Press Team
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://trustonion.io/press
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dd491b07-573b-48fa-8755-023fb2cfc6e7
