Mom Testifies AI Kidnapping Scam Used Her Daughter’s Voice

A mother testified before Congress about the terrifying day she heard her daughter's voice as a part of an AI kidnapping scam. When Jennifer DeStefano answered her phone, she heard her 15-year-old daughter crying. That's when a man claimed he kidnapped her daughter. He also demanded $1 million before reducing it to $50,000. Thankfully, DeStefano was able to reach her daughter before paying the ransom. Now, she's warning the nation about the potential dangers of artificial intelligence.

[skelemama]

The fact that AI is smart enough to do that is genuinely terrifying. AI is getting to be out of hand at this point.

[mercy]

This AI is getting very complex, it's scary.

[danleonhart]

Only thing I've advised before, I'll say it again. Create a secret word or phrase that only your immediate family knows the answer. If the phony kidnapper can't provide the answer.. Then the gig is up!

[HappyHappy-sqij]

She’s talking to a generation that doesn’t even know how Facebook works.

[randymaramot]

The whole world must take action about the potential dangers of using AI to commit a crime. This is an alarming issue.

[cmndrkool]

Make a code word or phrase that only you and the other person would know if you’re in trouble. Because there’s no way the person behind the AI can react to something they’re not aware of.

[josephjarvis]

The fact this happened to just normal people is what scares me, makes me glad I’m a nobody with no online uploads other than text in YouTube chat

[landporte]

I love how Inside Edition is giving people tutorials on how to scam with AI. Just terrifying.

[hippopotomostrosesquippeda]

And here I thought AI can only mimic famous people's voices. But this is genuinely terrifying

[AA-bjbu]

My mom had a similar experience. Thank God she had the wherewithal to call my siblings and then me to verify, the fear in my mom was visceral and she already has high blood pressure
This is getting ridiculous, scammers need to get it

[MMDMizuki]

That's why if I ever get one of those phone calls, I'm going to ask the kidnap person something only they would know or ask what's the emergency password is.

[buddyywilsonn]

This happened to my grandma. They called pretending to be me asking for bail money....

[cuekinaja]

The AI in the video sounds robotic, not natural, though.

[bhavyashetty]

Calling her daughter to confirm before giving money was good choice 👍

[Alterceptions]

This happened to my mother. My little brother wasnt in school and so my mother thought the worst of the worst. Good thing is everything is okay but this is a real problem that the government needs to step in on.

[woefulmelancholy]

We need more laws to protect us against a lot of internet stuff like misuse of AI, online harassment and sexual harassment, keeping kids off social media, etc.

[Vinsternator]

I’ve seen enough true crime to know that calls triangulate their general location. So why does it take investigators so long to find a suspect?

[snoanashi]

When we heard that AI could take over humanity someday, it just did in but a whole different sense

[pectis]

Skynet doesn't seem so far fetched now does it!?

[MarviKate]

AI was good in helping out with information and stuff, but the one who developed the voice generator AI should do something to ensure this does not get out of hand. People gonna have major trust issues at this point.