The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in scams has become more prevalent, with the latest incident being the AI kidnapping scam that copied a teen girl’s voice in a $1M extortion attempt. This new form of scam is particularly worrisome as it preys on the human emotion of parents who will do anything to protect their children. Jennifer DeStefano, a mother in Arizona, narrowly avoided paying scammers thousands of dollars after they convinced her that they were holding her 15-year-old daughter hostage.
According to reports, DeStefano received a call from an unfamiliar phone number while she was out at her other daughter’s dance studio. The caller convinced her that they were holding her 15-year-old daughter hostage and demanded a ransom of US$1 million for her safe return. DeStefano was left shaken after hearing her daughter’s voice on the line, sobbing and crying. She never doubted it was her daughter for a single moment. However, it was not her daughter who was on the line, but an AI-generated voice that sounded indistinguishable from her daughter’s real voice.
The scammer on the other end of the line threatened to harm the girl if DeStefano called the police or anyone else. He demanded that she deposit the ransom into a specific account. DeStefano told them that she didn’t have that much money and he eventually lowered the “ransom” to US$50,000. Because DeStefano was at her other daughter’s dance studio, she was surrounded by other worried parents who caught on to the situation. One called 911, and another called DeStefano’s husband. Within four minutes, they were able to confirm that DeStefano’s supposedly kidnapped daughter was safe.
This incident highlights the potential dangers of AI technology in the wrong hands. AI-generated voices are already being used on-screen to replicate actors, with James Earl Jones being a recent example. The ability to generate realistic human-like voices is only going to improve over time, making it even more difficult to distinguish between a real voice and a fake one.
It’s not just AI voices that scammers are using to commit crimes. Deepfake technology, which allows people to manipulate videos and images to make them appear to be real, has also been used in scams. Criminals can use deepfake technology to create fake videos or images of people, which they can use to blackmail or extort money from their victims.
The use of AI technology in scams is not a new phenomenon, but it is becoming more prevalent. Criminals are using AI technology to create more sophisticated and convincing scams, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to spot them. While it’s important to be vigilant and cautious when receiving unexpected calls or messages, it’s also important to be aware of the potential dangers of AI technology.
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In conclusion, the AI kidnapping scam that copied a teen girl’s voice in a $1M extortion attempt is a wake-up call for everyone. It’s important to be aware of the potential dangers of AI technology and to be vigilant when receiving unexpected calls or messages. While AI technology has the potential to revolutionize the way we live and work, it’s also important to remember that it can be used for nefarious purposes. It’s up to all of us to stay informed and take steps to protect ourselves from these types of scams.
