Scammers Use AI Voice Clone to Defraud California Woman in Fake Kidnapping
Scammers used AI voice cloning technology to impersonate a woman's daughter in a fake kidnapping extortion scheme, fraudulently obtaining $5,400. The incident is part of a reported growing trend of such scams involving artificial intelligence.
What happened
Deborah Del Mastro received a phone call from an unknown number in May 2026 in which a male voice claimed her 37-year-old daughter, Sarah, had been kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel. The caller played an audio clip purporting to be Sarah's voice in distress, saying 'I love you, mom, I'm so sorry, I'm so scared.'
Over five hours, Del Mastro followed the caller's urgent instructions to withdraw and wire money. She transferred $5,400 to Mexico from multiple locations. When told her daughter would be released at a grocery store, Del Mastro went to the location but could not find her. She then called her daughter directly and learned that Sarah was at work and had not been kidnapped.
An expert from Operation Shamrock stated that scammers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to clone voices by obtaining audio from social media or phone calls, and that this trend is part of a growing 'scamdemic.'
Reported impact
Deborah Del Mastro lost $5,400 to the scam.
Index analysis
Voice cloning technology enabled the scammers to create an audio that Del Mastro believed was her daughter's voice, making the kidnapping scenario appear credible enough to motivate financial transfers over five hours.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.