Beware of Scammers Using AI Voice Cloning During Holiday Season
Police on Long Island are urging residents to stay vigilant and be cautious of scammers looking to take advantage of people during the holiday season. To spread awareness and protect the community, the Suffolk County Police are offering seminars to educate the public about these scams.
With criminals constantly seeking new opportunities for financial gain, the holidays provide a prime time for scammers to prey on unsuspecting individuals. This is when people are often preoccupied and may be more vulnerable to falling victim to a fraudulent scheme, according to the Suffolk County Police.
What makes matters worse is that scammers are now utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) spoofing tools to clone the voices of individuals they find on social media. By employing these cloned voices, scammers create convincing scripts to call the family members of the person whose voice has been cloned. This insidious tactic aims to deceive and convince unsuspecting victims to send money.
Recently, an 85-year-old man from Hauppauge received a distressing call from an individual using AI voice cloning technology. The imposter claimed to be his granddaughter who had been arrested and urgently needed $19,000 for bail. The concerned grandfather met with an individual on two separate occasions and handed over the requested cash, unaware that he was falling victim to a scam.
In another incident, a 70-year-old woman from Smithtown was contacted by someone posing as an Amazon representative. The imposter informed her that someone was attempting to make unauthorized purchases using her bank account. The victim was instructed to withdraw cash to keep it safe since her account had been compromised. Over three separate withdrawals, the woman handed over more than $100,000, which the same man collected on three different dates. The victim was then advised to purchase gold coins worth $94,000 with a personal check, after which she sent a photograph of the receipt to the suspect.
These cases, which are currently under investigation, serve as a stark reminder of the convincing tactics scammers employ. It is crucial to remain vigilant and informed to protect oneself from falling victim to such scams.
To combat these fraudulent activities, detectives from the Financial Crime Unit are conducting free scam prevention presentations for community groups and senior centers. The goal is to educate the public and raise awareness about common scams during the holiday season. Additionally, the police department has created safety tip flyers in multiple languages to ensure that the message reaches all residents.
If you are interested in attending a prevention seminar or obtaining safety tips, you can contact the Financial Crimes Unit at 631-852-6821.
By staying informed, spreading awareness, and taking precautionary measures, individuals can better protect themselves during the holiday season when scammers are most active. Remember, scammers are evolving and using advanced tactics like AI voice cloning, so it is crucial to remain vigilant and cautious.
