An attorney warns of a sophisticated AI voice-cloning scam that nearly defrauded his father of $35,000, highlighting the urgent need for stricter regulations on AI technology.
An attorney has raised alarms over a sophisticated AI voice-cloning scam that almost tricked his father into handing over $35,000. This incident highlights the growing threat of AI technology being misused for fraudulent purposes, targeting unsuspecting family members.
Jay Shooster, a 34-year-old attorney campaigning for Congress in Florida, found himself at the center of a chilling scam. On September 28, his father, Frank, received a phone call from someone impersonating Jay. The caller claimed that Jay had been in a severe car accident, was arrested, and urgently needed $35,000 for bail.
Despite being an educated retired attorney, Frank was convinced by the caller's emotional plea. The impersonator's voice was so convincing that Frank believed he was speaking to his son.
"I got a phone call and it was my son, Jay. He was hysterical, but I knew his voice immediately," Frank recounted. The caller claimed Jay had broken his nose, received 16 stitches, and was in police custody due to a breathalyzer test that showed alcohol, which he attributed to cough syrup.
The scam escalated when another man, identifying himself as attorney 'Mike Rivers', instructed Frank to pay the bail via a cryptocurrency machine. This unusual request raised Frank's suspicions.
"I became suspicious when he told me to go to a Coinbase machine at Winn-Dixie. I didn’t understand how that was part of the legal process," Frank said.
Ultimately, it was a conversation with his daughter that alerted Frank to the rising trend of AI voice-cloning scams, prompting him to hang up the phone before any money was lost.
Jay Shooster expressed shock at the sophistication of the scam. He believes the scammers likely cloned his voice from a 15-second TV campaign ad.
"All it takes is a few seconds of someone’s voice—the technology is so advanced that they could have easily pulled my voice from my campaign ad," Jay stated.
In light of this experience, Jay is advocating for stricter regulations on AI technology to prevent similar scams from occurring in the future. He proposes three key policy solutions:
If elected to the Florida House of Representatives, Jay plans to introduce legislation aimed at holding AI companies liable for misuse and ensuring they implement necessary safeguards.
As AI technology continues to evolve, both Jay and Frank hope their story serves as a cautionary tale for others.
"This shows how important it is to stay calm and think things through carefully," Frank advises. "You have to listen and ask questions if something doesn’t add up. Scams like this are becoming more sophisticated, but we can’t let our guard down."
