Lehi police warn of AI voice-cloning ransom calls that mimic family members, loved ones - KUTV
Lehi police warn residents of AI voice-cloning scams where criminals mimic loved ones' voices to demand ransom, highlighting the growing threat of AI-driven fraud.
- Incident date
- Feb 2026
- Target
- Lehi residents
Lehi, Utah residents are being warned about a scam using artificial intelligence to clone voices of family members and demand ransom. The Lehi Police Department is advising extreme caution regarding unsolicited calls requesting urgent money transfers.
What happened
Scammers are using AI to clone the voices of loved ones, then calling family members with urgent demands. One woman reported receiving a call where the cloned voice of her aunt claimed she was being held in a car and would be hurt unless a sum of money was paid. The scam was made more credible because the woman and her aunt had recently discussed buying concert tickets online, which the scammer referenced. Police also warn that children's voices may be cloned to pressure parents into paying quickly. Cybersecurity experts recommend skepticism towards any urgent request for money and advise verifying the caller's identity by asking personal questions that a scammer would not likely know.