AI voice scam costs California mom $5,400 in fake kidnapping

Deborah Del Mastro, a California mother and Navy veteran, lost $5,400 to a virtual kidnapping scam that used artificial intelligence to mimic the voice of her 37-year-old daughter, Sarah. For five and a half hours, Del Mastro believed Mexican cartel members had abducted her daughter and were demanding a ransom. The caller, who claimed to be part of the cartel, threatened to sell Sarah for $20,000 or sexually traffic her if the money was not paid. Del Mastro described the voice on the phone as indistinguishable from her daughter's, noting that Sarah had recently gone through a breakup and had previously exhibited similar panic symptoms. The scammer instructed Del Mastro to keep her phone connected so he could monitor her movements and prevent her from verifying the situation. He forced her to make four separate wire transfers via MoneyGram and Western Union, totaling $5,400, which represented all the accessible funds available to Del Mastro and her husband. The caller provided a cover story for the transfers, instructing Del Mastro to claim she was paying medical expenses for a relative. Throughout the ordeal, the scammers demanded secrecy and warned that speaking to others would endanger Sarah. After the final payment, the caller claimed Sarah had been released outside a nearby Walmart. Del Mastro searched for her daughter but found no one. She then called Sarah directly, who answered from work. Sarah stated that the voice on the phone was likely an artificial intelligence clone of her voice. Both of Del Mastro's adult children work in information technology and were familiar with voice-cloning capabilities. The Federal Trade Commission notes that scammers can use short audio clips to generate convincing synthetic voices for such schemes. The FBI categorizes this crime as virtual kidnapping, warning that criminals often keep victims on the phone to prevent verification of the loved one's safety. Del Mastro reported the incident to local police. Her community later raised the stolen funds through a GoFundMe campaign. Federal agencies recommend establishing a family code word and verifying emergencies through known phone numbers rather than relying on the incoming call. Del Mastro now uses location-sharing applications with her daughter to provide an additional layer of verification.