HOUSTON – A growing scam fueled by artificial intelligence is leaving victims frightened and, in some cases, out thousands of dollars.
The FBI is warning Americans about AI-powered “voice cloning” scams, in which criminals use artificial intelligence to mimic the voices of family members and trick victims into sending money.
The scam often begins with a frantic phone call that appears to come from a loved one. The caller may claim they have been kidnapped, arrested, or are in some other emergency situation and urgently need financial help.
Using just a few seconds of audio taken from social media videos or other online sources, scammers can create a remarkably realistic imitation of a person’s voice.
One victim, Deborah Del Mastro, said she received a terrifying call from a man claiming he had kidnapped her daughter and was demanding $20,000 for her release.
The situation became even more convincing when she heard what sounded exactly like her daughter’s voice pleading for help.
Believing her daughter was in danger, Del Mastro sent the scammers $5,000 before realizing she had been targeted by a fraud scheme. The money was never recovered.
Consumer protection experts say there are several warning signs people should watch for when receiving an unexpected emergency call.
Red flags include unusual pauses or fluctuations in a loved one’s voice, demands to act immediately without verifying the situation, and requests to send money through wire transfers, Venmo, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other difficult-to-trace payment methods.
Authorities recommend hanging up and independently contacting the family member or friend using a known phone number before sending money or sharing personal information.
The FBI says AI-generated scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect. According to the agency, Americans lost more than $893 million to AI-related scams last year.
As artificial intelligence technology continues to evolve, experts say awareness and verification remain the best defenses against becoming a victim.