Man loses Rs 95K to AI voice scam - The Times of India
A 67-year-old man from Beleghata lost Rs 95990 to an AI voice cloning scam after fraudsters impersonated an acquaintance to request urgent medical funds
- Incident date
- Aug 2026
- Target
- 67-year-old man from Beleghata
In August 2026, a 67-year-old resident of Beleghata fell victim to a sophisticated financial fraud involving AI-driven voice synthesis. The individual was defrauded of Rs 95,990 after being manipulated by a caller who successfully mimicked the voice of a known acquaintance.
What happened
The victim received a call from an unknown number where the perpetrator utilized AI voice-cloning technology to sound exactly like an acquaintance named Ajoy. During the conversation, the fraudster claimed that a relative had been admitted to a private hospital and required immediate financial assistance for medical treatment. Relying on the authenticity of the voice, the victim transferred the funds through several online transactions in less than an hour.
The deception was only uncovered after the victim contacted the real Ajoy, who confirmed he had neither made the call nor requested money. Following the incident, the victim filed a formal complaint at the Beleghata Police Station. Local authorities have initiated an investigation, which includes auditing the phone number, reviewing call records, and tracking the bank accounts utilized by the scammers. Cyber experts and law enforcement are now urging the public to exercise extreme caution regarding urgent financial requests, advising individuals to verify the identity of any caller by contacting them on a known, trusted phone number before authorizing any transfers.