San Francisco Woman Loses $5,400 in Suspected AI Voice Scam

A San Francisco woman said she lost $5,400 earlier this month after a caller claimed to have kidnapped her adult daughter and played a voice resembling the daughter's over the phone. Deborah Del Mastro told "Good Morning America" that the caller first stated they had taken her daughter Sarah and demanded money for her return.

She said the caller then told her, "someone here that you need to talk to," before the voice said, "I'm so sorry, Mom. I am so scared. " Del Mastro said she wired the funds to multiple locations in Mexico. She later contacted her daughter and learned she was safe at work.

in the Incident AI tools can clone a voice from a few seconds of audio, according to an interview with ABC News San Francisco station KGO. The same report noted that such voice-cloning scams are increasing. A representative of an organization focused on combating scams told KGO that callers often create urgency to prompt immediate money transfers.

The representative advised treating any request that raises anxiety and requires quick movement of funds as a potential scam.

Del Mastro, a Navy veteran, said she usually handles crises well but believed the caller had her daughter. She told "GMA" she hopes sharing her experience will help others avoid similar incidents. According to KGO, police are continuing to investigate the case.