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  Geebo 8:00 am on August 2, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: kidnapping ( 10 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), virtual kidnapping, voice spoofing ( 20 )   

  Bank worker foils kidnapping scam for a mother 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Last week, a mother from Pasco, Washington, received a call that turned her world upside down. An unknown number informed her that her daughter had been kidnapped. It was only later that she realized this call, which appeared to come from a local number, was part of a sophisticated virtual scam. The scammers even allowed her to briefly ‘speak’ with her daughter. Although it is unclear how the kidnappers mimicked her daughter’s voice, it’s more than likely they used AI voice spoofing technology.

  Adding to the mother’s terror, the scammers threatened that if she attempted to call her daughter, they would harm her. Convinced that her daughter was in danger, the mother sent the kidnappers all the money she had, $600. But the demands didn’t stop there.

  The scammers coerced her into sending an additional $5,000 and directed her to a credit union to take out a loan. Thankfully, a vigilant employee at the credit union sensed something was amiss when they noticed someone on the phone claiming to have the woman’s daughter. The employee promptly alerted the police.

  As the mother remained on the line with the supposed kidnappers, the officer collaborated with the bank employees to obtain her address. Police arrived at her home to find her daughter safe and sound. The officer drove the daughter to the bank, where she and her mother were finally reunited.

  It’s important to recognize the signs of a virtual kidnapping scam. The calls do not originate from the alleged victim’s phone. Scammers strive to keep the target on the phone for extended periods and cannot answer simple questions about the person they claim to have kidnapped, such as their appearance.

  Anytime a stranger insists on keeping you on the phone, it’s a major red flag and likely an indication of a scam. Scammers rely on creating a sense of urgency and fear, preventing you from thinking clearly or seeking outside help. If you find yourself in such a situation, hang up immediately, verify the information independently, and reach out to local authorities.

   

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  Geebo 8:00 am on May 9, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Scams ( 1,354 ), schools ( 4 ), spoofed calls ( 8 ), virtual kidnapping   

  Virtual kidnapping scammers posing as schools 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In a virtual kidnapping scam, fraudsters make deceptive phone calls to victims, claiming they have kidnapped a family member. They often play a recording of a distressed voice, creating panic. The scammer then threatens violence or death unless a quick ransom payment is made to them. Importantly, no actual kidnapping has occurred. It’s all manipulation and coercion.

  In a recent alarming development, a Pennsylvania school district has issued a warning to parents and community members regarding a new version of the virtual kidnapping scam. This time, the scam involves perpetrators posing as school officials and claiming that a child has been abducted from school premises.

  According to the Superintendent, the scam begins with a distressing phone call from a number resembling that of the school district. The caller starts the conversation with what appears to be the voice of the victim’s child, followed by an adult claiming that the child has been kidnapped from the school grounds. Adding to the sense of urgency, the scammer often incorporates background sounds of a child crying to heighten the emotional impact.

  In a recent incident, a cautious parent confronted with this harrowing scenario maintained composure and promptly contacted the school. Fortunately, the school staff swiftly verified the child’s safety, reassuring the distressed parent and coordinating communication between them.

  The key takeaway from this alarming episode is the importance of remaining calm and knowing how to respond if faced with a similar situation. There are crucial steps for individuals to take if they receive such a call.

  Contact your child directly or reach out to the school to confirm their location and safety. Prompt verification is essential to dispel any doubts and ensure swift action if necessary.

  If uncertainty persists or foul play is suspected, do not hesitate to contact emergency services by dialing 911. Time is of the essence in such situations, and swift intervention is vital to ensuring the safety of the child.

  Parents can also take proactive measures to safeguard personal information by reviewing and adjusting privacy settings on social media accounts. Limiting the information accessible to potential scammers reduces the risk of falling victim to such fraudulent schemes.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on February 28, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: AI ( 16 ), AI voice ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), virtual kidnapping, voice c\, voice spoofing ( 20 )   

  The terrifying rise of AI-generated phone scams 

  

  By Greg Collier

  In the age of rapid technological advancement, it appears that scammers are always finding new ways to exploit our vulnerabilities. One of the latest and most frightening trends is the emergence of AI-generated phone scams, where callers use sophisticated artificial intelligence to mimic the voices of loved ones and prey on our emotions.

  Recently, residents of St. Louis County in Missouri were targeted by a particularly chilling variation of this scam. Victims received calls from individuals claiming to be their children in distress, stating that they had been involved in a car accident and the other driver was demanding money for damages under the threat of kidnapping. The scammers used AI to replicate the voices of the victims’ children, adding an extra layer of realism to their deception.

  The emotional impact of such a call cannot be overstated. Imagine receiving a call from someone who sounds exactly like your child, crying and pleading for help. The panic and fear that ensue can cloud judgment and make it difficult to discern the truth. This is precisely what the scammers rely on to manipulate their victims.

  One brave mother shared her harrowing experience with a local news outlet. She recounted how she received a call from someone who sounded like her daughter, claiming to have been in an accident and demanding a $2,000 wire transfer to prevent her kidnapping.

  Fortunately, in the case of the St. Louis County mother, prompt police intervention prevented her from falling victim to the scam. However, not everyone is as fortunate, with some parents having lost thousands of dollars to these heartless perpetrators.

  Experts warn that hanging up the phone may not be as simple as it seems in the heat of the moment. Instead, families should establish safe words or phrases to verify the authenticity of such calls.

  To protect yourself from falling victim to AI-generated phone scams, it’s essential to remain informed. Be wary of calls that pressure you to act quickly or request payment via gift cards or cryptocurrency. If you receive such a call, verify the authenticity of the situation by contacting the threatened family member directly and report the incident to law enforcement.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on January 3, 2024 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: exchange students, international students ( 2 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), virtual kidnapping   

  Missing student victim of kidnapping scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Over the weekend, you may have heard the story about the 17-year-old exchange student who was reported missing in Utah. He was found in a tent in the freezing Utah wilderness. Thankfully, he had not been abducted, nor had he been physically harmed. Instead, he was told to isolate himself by scammers while they tried to extort money from his family back home in China.

  This is a variation of the typical virtual kidnapping scam. In that fraudulent scheme, individuals are targeted with a phone call from scammers who falsely assert that they have abducted a family member or loved one. Frequently, these scammers employ unsettling tactics, such as having someone simulate distress in the background to create the illusion that the alleged kidnap victim is in danger. Alternatively, the scammers may utilize an AI-generated voice clone of the victim’s loved one. These manipulative techniques are designed to induce an emotional state in the actual victim, impairing their ability to think clearly. Subsequently, the scammers proceed to demand a ransom payment. It is important to note that the person supposedly kidnapped by the scammers is typically safe and unaware of being exploited in this deceitful scheme.

  This emerging scam specifically preys on college students with international visas. Victims receive a deceptive call that appears to originate from their home country. The scammer falsely claims that the student is entangled in legal issues back home, purportedly due to identity theft. Subsequently, the student is coerced into making a payment to prevent their arrest.

  Following the initial deception, scammers employ tactics to isolate their victims further. They instruct the targeted individuals not to disclose the matter to anyone and emphasize the importance of maintaining secrecy. Victims are warned against using social media and are even instructed to power off their phones. This isolation strategy aims to limit the victim’s access to external assistance or verification, thereby increasing the likelihood of compliance with the scammer’s demands.

  While the student in Utah was isolating himself in an unheated tent in the woods, his family in China was being told their son had been kidnapped. The scammers were able to con the teen’s parents out of $80,000.

  A common red flag in many scams involves attempts to isolate individuals from their friends and family. Legitimate authorities or organizations typically do not enforce secrecy to such an extent. When someone on the phone insists that you can’t discuss the matter with others, especially friends and family, it often indicates an attempt to manipulate and deceive. In such situations, it’s crucial for individuals to be skeptical, maintain open communication with trusted contacts, and verify the authenticity of any alarming claims before taking any further actions. This awareness can be a crucial defense against falling victim to scams that exploit isolation as a tactic.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on November 27, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: FTC ( 15 ), grandparent scam ( 69 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), virtual kidnapping, voice cloning ( 23 ), voice spoofing ( 20 )   

  The FTC puts a bounty on AI voice cloning 

  

  By Greg Collier

  AI-generated voice cloning, or voice spoofing, scams have become such a nuisance, the federal government is turning to the people to help solve the problem. If you’re unfamiliar with AI-voice generation technology, there are apps and programs that can take a short sample of anyone’s voice and make that voice say whatever you want it to. The benefit of it is it can give people who lost their speaking ability a voice. However, every tool that’s made for the good of mankind can also be used to its detriment.

  Scammers use cloned voices in what are known as emergency scams. Emergency scams can be broken down into two categories, for the most part, the grandparent scam, and the virtual kidnapping scam. In both sets of scams, the scammers need to convince their victim one of the victim’s loved ones is in some sort of peril. In the case of the grandparent scam, the scammer will try to convince the victim their loved one is in jail and needs bail money. While in the virtual kidnapping scam, the scammers try to convince the victim their loved one has been kidnapped for ransom.

  Scammers will take a sample of someone’s voice, typically from a video that’s been posted to social media. Then, they’ll use the voice cloning technology to make it sound like that person is in a situation that requires the victim to send money.

  Voice cloning has become such a problem, the Federal Trade Commission has issued a challenge to anyone who thinks they can develop some kind of voice cloning detector. The top prize winner can receive $25,000, the runner-up can get $4000, while three honorable mentions can get $2000.

  In their own words, the FTC has issued this challenge to help push forward ideas to mitigate risks upstream—shielding consumers, creative professionals, and small businesses against the harms of voice cloning before the harm reaches a consumer.

  The online submission portal can be found at this link, and submissions will be accepted from January 2 to 12, 2024.

  Hopefully, someone can come up with the right idea to better help consumers from losing their money to these scammers.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on October 19, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: international students ( 2 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), virtual kidnapping   

  New kidnapping scam crosses the line from virtual 

  

  By Greg Collier

  If you don’t know how the virtual kidnapping scam works, it can be terrifying for those it victimizes. In this scam, victims receive a phone call from scammers who tell the victim they’ve kidnapped a loved one. Often, the scammers will have someone screaming in the background to make it sound like the supposed kidnap victim is being harmed. Or, the scammers will use an AI-generated voice clone of the victim’s loved one. This can put the actual victim into an emotional state where they’re not thinking clearly, to say the least. From here, the scammers will demand a ransom payment. However, the person the scammers claim to have kidnapped is typically safe and unaware they’re being used in a scam.

  Now, some virtual kidnapping scammers have devised a new plot that takes the kidnapping part of the scam to a new level. This new scam tends to target college students who are here on international visas. They’ll receive a call that appears to come from their home country. The scammer tells the student that they’re in legal trouble back home due to their identity being stolen. Then the student is asked to make a payment to avoid arrest. That’s typical scam procedure, but then the scam takes a dark turn.

  The scammers then try to isolate their victims by telling them they can’t tell anyone about this matter. Victims are told to refrain from using social media and to turn their phones off. Some victims are even being told to go to a hotel alone to further the isolation. This manipulation can go on for weeks.

  Once the student is isolated enough, the scammers reach out to the victim’s family, telling the family they’ve kidnapped the student. In essence, they really have kidnapped the student, just not physically. This can be horrifying for all victims involved.

  Anytime someone tries to isolate you from your friends and family over the phone, it’s almost a guarantee they’re trying to scam you. It’s recommended that if you receive a call like this to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, or contact local or campus police.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 19, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: AI voice ( 9 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), virtual kidnapping, voice cloning ( 23 ), voice spoofing ( 20 )   

  The sheer terror of the kidnapping scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Even if someone has complete knowledge of how a certain scam works, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t fall victim to it, due to how some scams are completely menacing. Take, for example, the virtual kidnapping scam. This is when a scammer calls someone and claims to have kidnapped their loved one before making a ransom demand. Meanwhile, the supposed kidnap victim is unharmed and has no idea they’re being used in a scam. With the advancement of AI voice-spoofing technology, scammers can easily mimic the voice of the victim’s loved one to make the scam seem even more threatening.

  With that knowledge in mind, we may think we wouldn’t fall for such a scam as we sit at our keyboards and screens. But can you say that with 100% confidence? Before you answer, you should know the story of an Atlanta father who fell victim to the scam.

  He received a call from someone who claimed they kidnapped his adult daughter. At the time of the call, the man’s daughter was traveling. This could be why the man was targeted, as scammers often take information they find on social media and use it to their advantage. The caller claimed he got into a car accident with the man’s daughter and that they were carrying a substantial amount of cocaine at the time.

  The caller threatened the life of the man’s daughter, saying that they couldn’t have anyone recognize them. This was accompanied by screams and cries in the background that replicated his daughter’s voice. This was followed up with threats of torture and other bodily harm to the daughter if the man didn’t comply. For the sake of decorum, we won’t reprint specifically what the threats entailed, but imagine the worst thing that could happen to a loved one of your own, and then you have an idea of the terror that was unfolding.

  The father complied with the scammer’s request and sent them $2500 to the scammer’s bank account, probably through an app like Zelle.

  Even if armed with the knowledge of how the virtual kidnapping scam works, in the heat of the moment, no one could be blamed for falling victim to the scam. However, there are still ways to try to protect yourself from the scam. The best way is to set up a code word between you and your loved ones. This way, in cases of calls like this, you can know if you’re actually talking to your loved one or not. Or, you could also ask them a question that only the supposed kidnap victim would know.

  While it’s easier said than done, try to remain calm in the situation, even while your ears may be deceiving you. Make attempts to contact your loved one through other means. If you can, attempt to have someone else reach them on a different phone.

  Please keep in mind, virtual kidnapping scams rely on manipulation and intimidation. By staying calm, and taking the necessary precautions, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from falling victim to these schemes.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on September 7, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Scams ( 1,354 ), virtual kidnapping, voice cloning ( 23 ), voice spoofing ( 20 )   

  Kidnapping scam brings terror to family 

  

  By Greg Collier

  For the better part of this year, we’ve been warning our readers about scams that use AI mimicked voices of your loved ones. Typically, these spoofed voices are used in the grandparent scam and the virtual kidnapping scam. In these scams, it’s crucial for the scammers to make their victims believe that a member of the victim’s family is in immediate danger. To that end, scammers will steal a recording of someone’s voice, usually from social media.

  That voice sample is then run through an AI program that will allow the scammer to make the voice say anything they want it to, such as pleas for help. It’s gotten to the point where we believe the voice spoofing versions of these scams have become more common than their analog predecessors. For now, we think it’s pretty safe to assume if there’s a grandparent or virtual kidnapping scam, an AI voice clone is probably involved.

  For example, two parents in Ohio almost fell victim to the virtual kidnapping scam. They received a call that sounded like it was coming from their adult daughter. The parents described the call sounded like their daughter was in a panic. The voice said they were blindfolded and being held in a trunk. Then a male voice got on the call, claiming to be a kidnapper who would harm their daughter if they didn’t pay a ransom.

  To make matters worse, the supposed kidnapper knew the daughter’s name and the area where she worked. This made the claim of kidnapping seem more credible to the parents.

  At first, the parents did the right thing. They tried calling their daughter from another line, but were unable to get a hold of her. Then they called 911, but were still under the impression their daughter had been legitimately kidnapped.

  They went to get the ransom from their bank, but the branch had just closed. The caller instructed the parents to go to a local Walmart, probably to send a money transfer to the scammers. Thankfully, the police caught up with the parents to let them know their daughter was in no harm and the call was a scam.

  Not everyone is up on the latest scams, so just imagine the sense of fear and terror they must have experienced. However, all it takes is a little bit of knowledge to protect yourself from this scam. As we often cite, kidnappings for ransom are actually quite rare in the U.S. If you have a loved one who is active on social media, scammers can use the information shared to make it seem like they’ve been plotting a kidnapping for a while. Again, this is done to make their con seem more authentic.

  In the unfortunate event you receive a call like this, do exactly what these parents did. Contact the loved one who has been supposedly kidnapped on another line. The odds are you’ll find them not only safe, but unaware they’re being used in a scam. Then call the police for their assistance. Lastly, even if it sounds like the exact voice of your loved one, be skeptical, as these days, voices can be easily duplicated.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on July 20, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity scam ( 34 ), police impersonation scam ( 61 ), rental scam ( 87 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), venmo ( 28 ), virtual kidnapping, voice cloning ( 23 ), voice spoofing ( 20 )   

  Scam Round Up: Fake cops threaten tenants and more 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Our first scam of the day comes to us from a warning from the New York City Police Department. The NYPD says they’ve seen an increase in a charity scam that involves Venmo and your phone. Scammers are approaching NYC residents while pretending they’re working for a charity.

  The scammers will ask for a donation through the personal payment app Venmo. The victim will be provided the information to make the donation, but the donation won’t go through. This is when the scammer will ask for the victim’s phone to help them make the donation. Instead, the scammers are sending the entire amount of the victim’s Venmo account to themselves.

  The NYPD is telling residents not to hand their phones over to strangers, especially if they’re asking for donations. Please keep in mind, Venmo was intended to be used between family and friends.

  ***

  We’ve been keeping a close eye on the scams that involve AI-generated voice-spoofing. Scammers will take someone’s voice either from social media or their voicemail message and run it through an AI voice program that will allow them to make someone’s voice say just about anything they want. Typically, voice-spoofing is used in the grandparent and virtual kidnapping scams. In these scams, scammers need the victim to believe they’re talking to a loved one.

  The most recent report we have on this is out of Atlanta, where a mother was confronted with this scam. She received a call she thought was from her adult daughter. She heard her daughter’s voice before someone on the call said her daughter saw something she shouldn’t have and has now been kidnapped. The caller demanded $50,000 in ransom.

  Thankfully, her husband was able to get a hold of her daughter, who was in no real danger.

  If you receive a phone call like this, always try to reach the person who has been supposedly kidnapped through other means. Even if you have a full conversation with someone who sounds just like your loved one, always verify the story. Ask them a question only they would know, or set up a family code word ahead of time that would signify who you were talking to.

  ***

  Residents of Newark, New Jersey, have reported that people posing as police have been going around to tenants and demanding multiple months worth of rent. If the phony officers don’t get the money, they threaten the tenants with eviction and arrest.

  In New Jersey, an eviction can’t be carried out until the landlord has received a judgment in court.

  If you’re renting your home or apartment, you should familiarize yourself with your state’s or county’s eviction process.

  Also, keep in mind, legitimate police will never show up at your door asking for your rent money. If someone claiming to be police does show up at your door, call the police department they’re supposedly from and verify if an officer has been dispatched to your home.

   
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  Geebo 8:00 am on June 7, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: AI ( 16 ), Scams ( 1,354 ), virtual kidnapping, voice cloning ( 23 ), voice spoofing ( 20 )   

  Virtual kidnappings become more virtual 

  

  By Greg Collier

  The virtual kidnapping scam is called virtual because it’s not real. This is when scammers call a victim and pretend to have kidnapped one of the victim’s loved ones. The scammers then demand some kind of ransom payment that can typically be done online. The victim will be kept on the phone by the scammers to try and ensure the victim can’t contact the loved one who has supposedly been kidnapped. Since the scam appeals to the victim’s emotions, many people have fallen victim to this scam while their loved ones are unaware they’re being used in a scam.

  More recently, scammers have made the virtual kidnapping scam more believable through AI-generated voice spoofing technology. Just as an aside, when we refer to programs like ChatGPT and Dall-E as AI, it’s actually a misnomer. A better way to describe them is machine learning programs, but the popular nomenclature has stuck, so we refer to them as AI.

  Anyway, scammers are now taking voice samples from people online, and using it in the virtual kidnapping scam. For example, a man from Arizona recently received a phone call where scammers said they kidnapped his daughter. The man then heard his daughter’s voice on the phone call saying “Papa, help me!” Her voice wasn’t robotic sounding as some may think. Voice spoofing has gotten so believable because it can mimic someone’s tone of voice as well. The scammers demanded $10,000 from the victim.

  Thankfully, the man’s daughter was unharmed. She was at school, unaware of what her father had been going through.

  Scammers get the voice samples used in the spoofing mainly from social media. It only takes a few seconds of someone’s voice to make a complete copy of someone’s voice. So, for anything that includes your child’s voice, you may want to limit access to that post.

  If you receive one of these phone calls, it’s hard not to believe what you’re hearing. However, as we like to stress, kidnappings for ransom are actually rare in the U.S. With that knowledge in mind, try to contact the supposed kidnap victim either on another phone or some other device. The chances are you’ll find they’re in no danger. In any event, you should contact local law enforcement and let know what happened.