- By Alex David
- Sun, 03 Aug 2025 04:07 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Not long ago, a woman living in Florida was a victim of AI-based voice fraud and lost around $15,000 (approx. ₹12.5 lakh). Sharon Brightwell, the woman in question, thought she was aiding her daughter in an accident case, but, turned out it be a complete hoax.
This goes to show how much of a problem this is becoming – scammers are using AI to create voice clones and develop phone scams that are unbelievably real. If you’ve ever posted videos or voice notes, you might want to think twice before sharing such content.
When AI Pretends to Be Someone You Love
Sharon got a call on July 9 from a number that was nearly identical to her daughter’s. The voice on the call was similar to her daughter’s and was worried and frantic. The caller claimed that Sharon’s daughter had a car accident where she was texting, and hit a pregnant woman and was under some kind of authority hold.
A moment later, she got another call. This time, a man posing to be a lawyer was demanding a $15,000 bail payment. In a frantic attempt to die with the situation, Sharon withdrew the money and handed over the amount as it was required.
The scam escalated. She got a second call claiming the unborn baby had died, and the victim’s family now wanted ₹25 lakh more to drop legal action. At that point, her grandson and a close family friend intervened. They contacted Sharon’s real daughter directly, who was safe at work the whole time.
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How the AI Voice Scam Was Pulled Off
The scammers used AI voice cloning to mimic Sharon’s daughter, April Monroe, with stunning accuracy. All it took was a small voice sample—possibly pulled from a social media video or past phone call. The cloned voice fooled not just Sharon, but even others familiar with April.
April has since launched a fundraiser to help recover the losses and raise awareness about this disturbing scam trend.
Authorities in Hillsborough County, Florida, have confirmed an investigation and warned that AI-driven scams are becoming more advanced and harder to detect. These scams don’t need hacking or deep tech—just a few seconds of your voice and a convincing story.
Why These Scams Work
AI phone scams exploit basic human instincts—fear, urgency, and love. Victims act fast, often without verifying details, because the stakes seem so high. These scams often target:
- Elderly people
- Emotionally vulnerable individuals
- Families with young children
The emotional manipulation is so strong that even normally cautious people can fall victim.
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How to Protect Yourself From AI Voice Cloning Scams
To avoid falling prey to similar scams, follow these essential steps:
Safety Tip | Why It Matters |
Always verify emergency calls using another contact method | Don’t rely on the same number that called you |
Be wary of urgency | Scammers often push you to act fast—pause and think |
Create a family codeword | A simple, pre-decided word can confirm real emergencies |
Limit what you post online | Public videos or audio clips can be used to clone voices |
Educate older relatives | They are prime targets for emotional scams |
Additionally, treat every request for money over a phone call—no matter how real it sounds—with serious suspicion.
Final Thoughts
It’s not just about one household losing money; this is a matter of how swiftly scams are changing due to AI, which is getting more advanced by the minute. With new tech seeming more and more advanced, the need to verify the authenticity of something has gotten more difficult. Being informed, prepared, and vigilant are the new rules to safeguarding your money and your family. When something seems suspicious, hitting the brakes and confirming details without acting in a group is the way to go.