'No parent ever wants to get this call': Man shares harrowing experience of AI voice-cloning scam demanding Rs 25 lakhs
A Florida man shares a scary encounter with an AI voice-cloning scam that nearly deceived his parents into believing he was in serious trouble. This alarming incident highlights the growing sophistication of scams and the importance of vigilance in protecting ourselves from such deceptions.
Every day, we hear about various scams¡ªfrom prize winnings to parcel delivery fraud¡ªbut just when you think you've seen it all, another bizarre scam emerges. Recently, a new scheme has surfaced that uses AI to clone your voice with stunning accuracy. A U.S. man is sharing his experience as his parents almost fell victim to this alarming deception.
Florida resident Jay Shooster, currently running for the Florida State House, took to X to recount a scary experience involving an AI scam that targetted his family.
Today, my dad got a phone call no parent ever wants to get. He heard me tell him I was in a serious car accident, injured, and under arrest for a DUI and I needed $30,000 to be bailed out of jail.
¡ª Jay Shooster (@JayShooster) September 28, 2024
But it wasn't me. There was no accident. It was an AI scam.
He shared, "Today, my dad got a phone call no parent ever wants to get. He heard me tell him I was in a serious car accident, injured, and under arrest for a DUI and I needed $30,000 to be bailed out of jail."
This unsettling incident occurred just days after Shooster's voice was broadcast on television for a brief 15 seconds: "More than enough to make a decent AI clone."
But the voice on the other end of the line wasn't actually Shooster, of course; "There was no accident," he revealed.
For 15 agonizing minutes, his parents believed the ruse, leaving them traumatised. "They thought I was seriously injured and that I ruined my life/career," he wrote.
He says the only way they figured out it was a scam was when the scammers refused to accept payment via card, raising red flags for Shooster's family.
Other inconsistencies followed, such as their claim that the random public defender assigned to Shooster was a 'great' lawyer.
Several folks have asked how they figured out it was a scam. Seems like the main thing that tipped them off was that they wouldn't accept payment via card. Then other things started to seem fishy (e.g., I claimed that the random public defender assigned to me was a great lawyer)
¡ª Jay Shooster (@JayShooster) September 30, 2024
As a consumer protection lawyer, Shooster has often warned about such scams, discussing them in work presentations and family conversations and yet, he says, "They still almost fell for it. That's how effective these scams are," urging people to spread the word to friends and family.
How did people respond?
In the comments, users shared insightful strategies to avoid falling victim to such scams.
One person remarked, "These types of AI powered scams are on the rise. We're all going to need a secret passphrase that identifies we're real. It's a shame that the world is coming to this.."
Another advised, "Have some identity confirmation questions ready - stuff only you and they know. The key is for them to remember to verify it's you calling¡"
As scams continue to evolve, staying vigilant and implementing these protective measures could be the key to safeguarding ourselves and our loved ones from the dangers of AI deception.
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Srishti B Dutta brings you everything from rags-to-riches tales and inspiring student success stories to those "No way, this can't be real!" moments. Whether it's intriguing, heartwarming, or just plain quirky, she's got it covered.
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