“There is nobody that could convince me that it wasn’t her.”

A Hillsborough County woman is speaking out after losing $15,000 to one of the most disturbing scams yet—powered by artificial intelligence.

It began with a frantic phone call from what appeared to be her daughter’s number. On the other end was her daughter’s voice—terrified, begging for help. She didn’t question it. Who would?

But it wasn’t real. It was a voice clone generated by AI, crafted to mimic her daughter perfectly. The scammers tricked her into urgently sending money—believing it was life or death.

This new wave of scams highlights the terrifying potential of AI to deceive us not just through words—but voices. Real, emotional, and convincing.

WFLA reports that the woman is now warning others: “If it could happen to me, it can happen to anyone.”

How to Protect Yourself

• Always hang up and call back directly.
• Set a family “code word” for emergencies.
• Be cautious of emotional pressure tactics.
• Enable caller verification features if available.

As AI evolves, so do the scams. Stay informed—and stay protected.

Don’t assume it’s real—just because it sounds real.