Two Highline Public Schools Community Members Targeted in Deepfake Kidnapping Scams
Two community members in King County, Washington's Highline Public Schools district reported being targeted by kidnapping scams using AI-generated audio to impersonate family members and demand ransom. The FBI has noted a nationwide rise in such scams, particularly targeting non-English-speaking families.
What happened
Two members of the Highline Public Schools community in King County, Washington reported being targeted by kidnapping scams involving artificially generated audio. Scammers falsely claimed to have kidnapped a family member and played AI-generated audio recordings of the supposed victim, then demanded ransom payments.
Reported impact
The scammers used phone numbers with different area codes and attempted to keep victims on the line to prevent them from contacting their loved ones or authorities.
Index analysis
The FBI has noted a nationwide increase in these scams, with particular focus on families who speak a language other than English.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.