Dangers of AI-Voice cloning scams - 13newsnow.com

A California mother was targeted by a sophisticated scam that utilized artificial intelligence to mimic her daughter's voice in a high-pressure extortion attempt. The incident highlights the growing threat of AI-driven social engineering tactics used to manipulate victims through emotional distress.

What happened

On June 2, 2026, the victim received a phone call featuring a voice identical to that of her daughter. The caller claimed that the daughter had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom payment of $20,000 for her safe release. Relying on the authenticity of the voice, the mother complied with the scammers' demands, resulting in the loss of thousands of dollars. The attack leveraged voice cloning technology to create a false sense of urgency and panic, effectively preventing the victim from verifying the situation through other means.