Scammers have taken phone scams to a new level by using artificial intelligence to clone a girl's voice, leading to a demand for a $1 million ransom from her mother, according to a report from the New York Post.
This terrifying scheme is part of a growing trend of "caller-ID spoofing" scams where scammers claim they have taken a person hostage and will hurt them if they do not receive a specified amount of ransom.
Incoming Call From an Unknown Number
Jennifer DeStefano, a Scottsdale, Arizona resident, received a call from an unknown number, which she almost ignored until she realized her 15-year-old daughter, Brie, was on a skiing trip.
Upon answering the call, DeStefano heard her daughter's voice say, "Mom!" followed by sobs. Her daughter then claimed that she had messed up, and a man's voice came on the phone, instructing "Brie" to lie down and put her head back.
The caller then threatened to harm her daughter if DeStefano contacted the police or anyone else. Throughout the call, DeStefano heard her daughter in the background pleading for help while crying.
The faux kidnapper then demanded a $1 million ransom, which he lowered to $50,000 after the mother said she did not have that much money.
During the call, DeStefano was certain that her daughter was in danger, but it was later discovered that the voice was AI simulated, similar to a case of long-distance ventriloquism.
The Terrifying Advancement of Voice Cloning
According to computer science specialists, voice cloning technology has advanced to the point that it is now possible to duplicate a speaker's tone and speaking style from a brief audio sample.
To avoid being conned, Dan Mayo, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI's Phoenix office, suggested asking the scammer a number of questions about the victim that they would not be aware of.
Additionally, he advised watching out for warning signs like strange area codes or overseas phones.
On Facebook, Jennifer DeStefano issued a warning, urging users to contact the police if they or anyone they know falls victim to the fraud she shared.
The scariest aspect that really shook her to her core, according to her, is that she was convinced that her daughter was in danger.
She was terrified during the call, but when she called 911 and got assistance from another mother, she felt relieved that the call was just a scam. They later verified that Brie was safe while she was out skiing.
The identity of the AI-enabled scammer is unknown at this time, but with the growing sophistication of such scams, it is important to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to avoid being scammed.
As voice cloning technology continues to evolve, it is imperative to be aware of the potential danger and always be cautious when receiving a call from an unfamiliar number.
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