Bay Area mom loses thousands in fake kidnapping call

A California mother sounds the alarm after she fell victim to a sophisticated scam that led her to believe she was hearing her daughter asking for help after being kidnapped.

She later found out she was actually the target of a growing AI-powered scam convincing enough to keep her on the phone for hours and pressure her into sending thousands of dollars before discovering her daughter was actually safe and sound.

The incident is part of an increase in AI-driven virtual kidnapping scams that have prompted repeated warnings from the FBI, which says criminals are increasingly using cloned voices, spoofed phone numbers, and emotional manipulation to extort families.

Key takeaways

• A Bay Area mother lost roughly $5,400 after scammers allegedly used AI to mimic her daughter’s voice
• The fake kidnapping call lasted for hours and pressured the victim into wiring money
• The FBI has issued multiple warnings about AI-powered impersonation and voice cloning scams
• Criminals may clone voices using short audio clips from social media, videos, or voicemails
• Families are encouraged to create safe words and independently verify emergency calls
• Suspected scams should be reported to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)

Bay Area mother says the voice sounded exactly like her daughter

According to ABC7 News, Deborah Del Mastro received a call from an unknown number earlier this month. The caller claimed her adult daughter had been kidnapped by a Mexican cartel.

Then she heard what she believed was her daughter screaming and crying.

“It was my daughter's voice having an absolute panic attack, telling me 'I love you, mom, I'm so sorry, I'm so scared' and then they just cut it off," Del Mastro told ABC7.

The caller allegedly kept her on the phone for nearly five hours, giving her constant instructions and creating a sense of urgency designed to stop her from contacting anyone else.

After wiring approximately $5,400 to Mexico from multiple locations, Del Mastro said the caller instructed her to go to a grocery store, where she was told her daughter would be released.

But when she arrived, there was no sign of her. Panicked and confused, she finally called her daughter directly. Her daughter answered the phone and calmly told her she was at work.

Only then did the mother realize she had been manipulated by scammers.

“God, I couldn't believe it. I mean, I couldn't believe it. And then I did believe it,” Del Mastro told ABC7 News.

The victim also reported the scam to police, but investigators say that the recovery of the funds is unlikely.

FBI has issued multiple warnings about virtual kidnapping scams

Federal authorities have repeatedly warned consumers that AI-assisted scams are becoming more sophisticated and emotionally powerful.

In one FBI advisory, officials warned that cybercriminals are increasingly using AI-generated voice and video cloning to impersonate trusted individuals, including family members, friends, and coworkers.

The FBI says scammers use these tools to create panic, pressure victims into immediate financial transactions, and bypass the skepticism that might normally accompany suspicious calls or messages.

Recent warnings have also highlighted the rise of AI-assisted extortion and virtual kidnapping schemes involving fake emergencies and deepfake “proof of life” content.

The agency encourages victims and consumers to report incidents through the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

How to protect yourself from AI voice cloning scams

Create a family safe word

It’s increasingly recommended to establish a private code word or phrase known only to close family members.  If you receive a distress call, asking for the safe word can quickly help determine whether the situation is real.

Verify through another method

Hang up and contact the person directly using a trusted number already saved in your phone. You can also text them, contact another relative, or check location-sharing apps if enabled.

Avoid oversharing audio online

Public videos and voice recordings may provide material for AI cloning tools. Closely reviewing social media privacy settings and limiting the sharing of highly personal recordings can help reduce exposure.

Slow down before sending money

Know this: scammers rely on panic and urgency. Any caller who demands immediate payment and prevents you from contacting others should be treated with extreme caution.

Consumers may also want to consider a mobile security solution with scam detection and call-blocking features that identify suspicious or fraudulent calls before conversations escalate. Tools like Bitdefender Mobile Security’s Call Protection for Android are designed to help users spot potential scam calls and regain control over who reaches them.