I want you to think about the voice of someone you love. You can probably recall how they sound when they laugh, or even how they might sound in distress. So, imagine this: your phone rings, and it’s that voice, pleading for help. This was the reality for Deborah Del Mastro.
Recently, I talked with Deborah on The CyberGuy Report podcast. Even now, months after the incident, you can sense how deeply it affected her. She even shared with a U.S. Senate committee that she felt “completely traumatized.”
On this particular morning, Deborah, a California mother and Navy veteran, was enjoying breakfast with her husband when a local number came up on her phone. The caller claimed that a Mexican drug cartel had kidnapped her 37-year-old daughter, Sarah. Then came the chilling moment when she heard the voice she recognized — “It’s my daughter’s voice,” she said. “And she’s having a panic attack.”
For the next five and a half hours, the caller terrorized Deborah and her family, leading them around town and demanding thousands of dollars. Little did Deborah know, the reality of Sarah’s situation was far from what was being portrayed over the phone.
The bizarre phone call started innocuously enough. “I received a call from a local number,” Deborah recalled. When she answered, the man asked her who she was, and she countered with a question for him. He responded that he was “someone you need to talk to.” That immediately set off alarm bells.
He then inquired whether her daughter had a history of panic attacks, which caught Deborah’s attention. She heard chaos in the background before he handed the phone to someone else — her daughter’s voice, choked with sobs, gasping for breath. “I’m so sorry, Mom. I’m so scared,” she remembered. That unnerving familiarity made the call even more convincing.
The caller claimed that Sarah had witnessed something terrible in a parking lot and had her phone out at the time. He asserted he had connections to a Mexican drug cartel and said that her daughter was in danger. Then, the dollar amount was revealed — “They’re going to sell her for $20,000 unless I could come up with the money,” Deborah shared with me. The conversation took an even darker turn when the caller suggested alternatives for payment, leaving Deborah terrified about what might happen next.
This caller was incredibly manipulative, ensuring Deborah stayed on the line. He insisted that she needed to keep her phone charged, warning her that if it died before he was done, she’d never see her daughter again. This tactic demonstrated the level of control the scammer was exerting over her.
At one point, Deborah needed to mute the call to speak with her husband privately, but the caller noticed and began to scream threats, insisting she keep the line open. This unsettling situation stretched out for over five hours.
Initially, he asked for $20,000, which back in reality, Deborah couldn’t muster. “We just don’t have that,” she stated. Desperate, she began to negotiate for what she believed was her daughter’s life. She had about $2,000 in savings, which the caller directed her to send via MoneyGram to Mexico from a nearby Walmart, all while keeping the phone connected.
As she went to send the money, he warned her that individuals were watching her and claimed undercover police were near. He fabricated a story for her to tell anyone who might ask about the transfer, telling her to say she was helping a relative. This was particularly worrisome; it showed how scammers often prepare their victims to avoid detection.
When Deborah moved from one location to another sending money, no one questioned her well-being. She immediately stated, “No. No. Not at all.” The hours spent with the scammer had left her emotionally vulnerable and convinced that any communication could put Sarah’s life in jeopardy.
By the end, she had sent $5,400 in total, completely cleaning out her accessible funds. She described it as being held hostage for five and a half hours, where physically she could move, but emotionally, the caller had her under his thumb.
After some time, Deborah persisted in wanting to talk to Sarah again. The caller granted her wish but dictated what she could say, instructing her to say, “This nightmare is nearly over. We’re going to come get you as soon as we can.” A voice then came through, supposedly Sarah’s, expressing, “I’m so sorry, Mom. I love you.” Deborah was adamant, “It was absolutely her voice.” Soon after, another man came onto the line, and his tone was even more menacing, upping the panic and demands for more money.
As the situation unfolded, Deborah found herself transported into a mental space focused entirely on her daughter’s survival. Instead of considering whether it was a scam, she was occupied with the harrowing thought of how to support Sarah’s recovery after this ordeal.
Eventually, the caller told Deborah it was over, claiming they had freed Sarah outside a Walmart nearby. “Go get her,” he instructed before hanging up.
Deborah rushed outside, looking for Sarah only to be met with a horrifying reality — her daughter wasn’t there. Panic hit her, and she fleetingly feared that all that money had been for nothing. Just then, she decided to call Sarah directly. “Hi, Mom. What’s going on?” Sarah answered, as if everything were normal — she was at work.
Feeling an immense wave of relief, Deborah remarked, “I’d never been so relieved to be scammed in my life.” After expressing her overwhelming emotions, they reported the incident to the local police. The financial loss was significant, but Sarah’s safety was paramount.
Later, Sarah expressed her suspicion that it could have been an AI voice clone. Given that both of Deborah’s children are in IT, they were aware of the technology, while Deborah was not. She now firmly believes that an AI-generated version of Sarah’s voice was an integral part of the scam.
The concept of “virtual kidnapping” isn’t new; it predates modern advancements in AI. Essentially, criminals manipulate victims by claiming their loved ones are in danger. The FBI warns us that one hallmark of such scams is keeping victims on the phone, thereby preventing them from verifying the well-being of their loved ones.
Deborah’s experience illustrates how this classic scam has been amplified with new technology. As she put it: “It is an old scam with new technology.”
As a Navy veteran, Deborah prides herself on staying composed in crises, often taking charge rather than shying away from challenges. Yet, in this instance, the panic in the caller’s voice was convincing enough to shatter her resolve.
Though she now bears the financial burden of $5,400, Deborah took to social media to warn her community about the high-tech capabilities of these criminals. Friends rallied together, encouraging her to start a fundraiser on GoFundMe to replace her lost funds, which her community willingly supported. While this gesture couldn’t undo the emotional toll of the five-and-a-half-hour call, it was a powerful reminder of community solidarity.
7 ways to protect your family from an AI voice kidnapping scam
You don’t need to become a pro at spotting synthetic audio. Instead, establishing a plan for verifying emergencies now could save you a lot of heartache later.
1) Call your loved one yourself
If someone claims a relative has been kidnapped or injured, reach out to them directly using a number you trust. If they don’t answer, check with someone else close to them.
2) Create a private family safe word
Establish a unique word or phrase that’s not likely to be discovered through social media. The FBI recommends this for situations like virtual kidnapping scams. However, ensure you have multiple verification methods since the caller controlled Deborah’s communication with Sarah.
3) Have another way to verify someone’s location
Deborah and Sarah decided to start using a location-sharing app to monitor each other’s whereabouts. Just understand that sharing your location comes with privacy considerations.
4) Pay attention when someone demands secrecy
The scam was rooted in secrecy, with the caller urging Deborah not to speak to anyone. The FBI warns that urgency and secrecy are often tactics used in family emergency scams.
5) Be extremely cautious about wire transfers
Wire transfers make it easy for scammers to get money quickly and make recovery tough. If you’ve sent money, act fast by contacting your bank, and also report it to law enforcement.
6) Reduce how much personal information criminals can find
Your personal information can easily be retrieved by scammers, making their stories more believable. Use data removal services to limit what can be found online about you and your family.
7) Talk about this scam before the phone rings
This might be the most important conversation you have this week. Discuss how a familiar voice can be faked and agree on verification measures before a crisis strikes.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Deborah’s story really resonated with me. The voice she heard wasn’t just some robotic imitation; it sounded like her daughter in an emotional crisis. For over five hours, the scammer kept her gripped with fear for Sarah’s safety. It wasn’t just about money in that moment — it was about protecting her child.
What stays with me is how deeply Deborah considered the aftermath of the ordeal. Instead of worrying about the lost money, she focused on how to support Sarah through the trauma. In moments like these, a parent’s instinct takes over.
Building defenses against such scams doesn’t mean mastering voice recognition. As technology advances, it’s possible for anyone to be fooled. So, it’s essential to create a couple of reliable methods for verifying emergencies before they arise.
Most importantly, talk about these concerns with your loved ones. Deborah was unaware that AI-generated voice scams existed before her harrowing experience. Now she shares her story, hoping to prevent another parent from finding themselves in a similar position.
