The “Family Emergency” scam has been updated with AI voice-cloning technology, making fraudulent calls sound terrifyingly real.

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office issued a public safety alert on Monday, warning residents of a disturbing and technologically advanced phone scam primarily targeting senior citizens. The scam, a variation of the old “grandparent scam,” now uses artificial intelligence (AI) to clone a person’s voice, creating a convincing but fake audio message of a loved one in distress. Sheriff Robert Maciol urged residents to be extremely vigilant, as this new method makes it much harder to distinguish a genuine emergency from a cruel and costly hoax.

How the AI-Powered Scam Works

This isn’t the classic, clumsy scam call of the past. The new version is highly sophisticated and preys on our deepest instincts to protect our family. The process is chillingly effective.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how the criminals operate:

1. Voice Cloning: Scammers find short audio clips of a person’s voice online, often from social media videos (like Instagram Reels or TikTok). They use AI software to analyze this clip and generate a clone of the person’s voice.
2. The Deceptive Call: The target, usually an older adult, receives a phone call. They hear the AI-cloned voice of their grandchild or other relative saying something alarming, like “Grandma, I’ve been in an accident, and I’ve been arrested. I need you to send money for bail right away.”
3. The “Lawyer” or “Bail Bondsman”: The call is then quickly handed off to a human scammer posing as a lawyer, public defender, or bail bondsman. This person sounds professional and uses urgent language to pressure the victim into acting immediately.
4. The Urgent Request for Cash: The scammer instructs the victim to withdraw a large sum of cash (typically thousands of dollars) and either wire it, buy gift cards, or even hand it off to a “courier” who will come to their home.

“The AI voice element is what makes this so dangerous,” Sheriff Maciol said in the press release. “Hearing what you believe is your own grandchild’s voice, full of fear and panic, overrides all logic. These criminals are heartless, and they are using our own technology against us.”

Protecting Yourself and Your Loved Ones

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has already received several reports of this scam in the last week, with at least two residents losing a combined total of over $15,000. Law enforcement officials stress that education and communication are the best defenses against this type of fraud.

Red Flags to Watch For

Even with AI technology, there are signs that a call may not be legitimate:

• Extreme Urgency: Scammers will insist that you must act now and that you cannot tell anyone else, like the child’s parents. This is a tactic to prevent you from verifying the story.
• Unusual Payment Methods: Law enforcement and courts will never ask for payment via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. They will certainly never send a courier to your home to pick up cash.
• Caller ID Spoofing: The incoming call may appear to be from a local number or even the loved one’s actual number, but this can be easily faked.

What to Do If You Get a Suspicious Call

Sheriff Maciol advises a simple, three-step process: Stop, Verify, Report.

1. Stop: Do not act immediately, no matter how convincing the call sounds. Hang up the phone.
2. Verify: Call your loved one directly using the phone number you have for them. If you can’t reach them, call another trusted family member (like their parents or spouse) to verify the story. Do not use any phone numbers given to you by the suspicious caller.
3. Report: Report the scam attempt to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office or your local police department, even if you did not lose any money. This helps law enforcement track the scammers’ activities.

A powerful preventative measure is to establish a “safe word” with your family members. This is a unique word or phrase that only your family knows. If you ever get a call asking for help, you can ask for the safe word. If the person on the other end can’t provide it, you know it’s a scam.

Stay Informed and Stay Safe

Technology is evolving, and unfortunately, so are the methods used by criminals. The rise of AI-powered scams is a stark reminder that we must remain critical and cautious. By understanding how these scams work and discussing them openly with family, especially older relatives, we can build a strong defense against fraud.

Please share this information with your friends, family, and neighbors. A simple conversation today could prevent a devastating financial and emotional loss tomorrow. If you or someone you know has been targeted by this scam, do not be ashamed—report it immediately.