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Kidnap scammers using AI to create fake videos, voice recordings of loved ones

May 8, 2023 – Fox 26 News, Houston

Law enforcement says kidnapping scams are on the rise with a new twist. Scammers are using artificial intelligence to clone the voice or videos of a loved one to trick you into paying a ransom for their release.

Victims say these deep fakes were so convincing, they left them scared for their loved ones’ lives.

“I heard my mom’s voice kind of fading away like someone was taking the phone away from her,” said TikTok blogger @citylivingsoutherngirl. “And I heard weeps; this guy then gets on the phone, and he goes, ‘Hey, I have your mom and if you don’t send me money, I’m going to kill this (expletive).” 

GuidePoint Cybersecurity Expert Felix Simmons showed us how artificial intelligence can clone his voice.

“This is just me talking right now, but when I go to generate,” said Simmons, clicking on the generate button.  

“This is a computer generation of my voice, this is how this works,” said the computer in Simmons’ voice.

Read More HERE.