15-year old Briana DeStefano was on a ski vacation when her mother received a sinister ransom call from a kidnapper who AI cloned Briana’s voice.

A woman from Arizona claims that her daughter’s voice was cloned using AI in a kidnapping scam that involved a ransom demand of $1 million.

Jennifer DeStefano received a call from an unknown number while her daughter was on a ski vacation. She heard her daughter’s voice crying and begging for help, followed by a man who threatened to harm her daughter if the police were contacted. (NDTV)

The kidnapper demanded $1 million, which was later lowered to $50,000, and DeStefano was at a dance studio with her other daughter at the time. She was convinced it was her daughter on the line and never doubted it for a second.

“It was completely her voice. It was her inflection. It was the way she would have cried,” said DeStefano. “I never doubted for one second it was her. That’s the freaky part that really got me to my core.”

However, other mothers notified the police and DeStefano’s husband, who ensured that her daughter was safe.

Police are conducting an investigation into the matter, but the scammers remain unidentified.

The incident highlights the risks associated with AI technology, which can be used to manipulate and deceive people. It is unclear how the scammers were able to clone the daughter’s voice, but it is a reminder to be vigilant and cautious when receiving unexpected calls or messages.

Related Story: Criminals AI-Cloned Director’s Voice To Pull Off $35M Heist In The U.A.E.

Photo by Sander Sammy on Unsplash