Scammers are using AI to mimic children’s voices and exploit parents, expert warns. Here’s what to know

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As children head back to school, cybersecurity experts are issuing a critical warning to parents about a sophisticated, high-tech new threat: AI-driven voice cloning scams.

Scammers are now using readily-available artificial intelligence tools to mimic children’s voices with startling accuracy, attempting to trick parents into sending thousands of dollars.

It begins with a ringing phone and a parent’s worst nightmare.

“What we’re seeing is parents are now getting calls as if they were coming from their children, when in fact they’re coming directly from the scammers,” said Howard Globus, a cybersecurity specialist.

He noted that today’s AI tools are highly capable of convincingly imitating voices. The callers typically demand money urgently, fabricating an emergency such as an accident or a severe problem to exploit parents’ emotions.

These emotional schemes are costing parents anywhere from a few hundred dollars to up to $15,000.

To protect your family, experts highlight key red flags and safety measures:

Globus warns that scammers are also continuing to use traditional AI-assisted tactics. This includes sending phishing text messages and emails disguised as communications from your child’s school or after-school programs.

“With back-to-school, parents are being targeted because we care about our kids,” Globus said. “Because we care about our kids, we have an emotional component involved, and scammers are playing off that emotion.”

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