What if your phone rang and you heard your mom’s voice?
She sounded upset. She told you there was an emergency. Then she asked you to send money or give her a code right away.
Would you believe it was really her?
Until recently, recognizing someone’s voice seemed like pretty good proof that you knew who was calling. Artificial intelligence is changing that.
A Mom Heard Her Daughter Crying for Help.
In 2023, an Arizona mom named Jennifer DeStefano received a terrifying phone call.
Her 15-year-old daughter was away on a ski trip. When Jennifer answered the phone, she heard what sounded exactly like her daughter crying.
Then a man got on the phone and said he had kidnapped her daughter. He demanded money.
Jennifer was convinced the voice was real. It sounded like her daughter, including the way she cried and spoke.
But her daughter hadn’t been kidnapped at all. Other parents helped Jennifer contact her husband, and within minutes they confirmed that her daughter was completely safe.
The frightening voice on the phone wasn’t proof that her daughter was actually calling.
Then It Happened Again.
In 2026, another mom, identified publicly as Rachel, received a frightening call.
This one was even harder to spot.
The call appeared to come from her daughter’s phone, and Rachel heard what sounded like her daughter crying and saying she had been in an accident.
A man took over the call, and Rachel believed her daughter was in danger. She followed his instructions and sent money.
Nearly two hours later, her real daughter called.
She was safe.
How Can Someone Fake a Voice?
Artificial intelligence can be used to create copies of people’s voices.
Think about how many places someone’s voice might appear online: a TikTok, YouTube video, sports clip, school performance, gaming stream or other video.
AI tools can use recorded audio to make a fake voice sound surprisingly real. That’s one reason the FBI and FTC have warned families about scams that use AI and impersonation.
And a familiar phone number isn’t proof either. Scammers can make a call appear to come from a number you recognize.
So what should you do if Mom, Dad, Grandma or someone else you know suddenly contacts you with an emergency?
Don’t Panic. Check.
If a call or message seems strange, remember:
STOP. Don’t send money, buy a gift card, share a password or give someone a verification code.
CHECK. Ask a question or use a family safe word to make sure the person really is who they say they are.
CALL BACK. Hang up and call your family member using the number you already have saved.
GET AN ADULT. If you’re not sure what to do, find a trusted adult and tell them what happened.
And there’s one more important rule:
Don’t Keep a Money Emergency Secret
A scammer may tell you:
“Don’t tell your parents.”
“You have to do this right now.”
“I’ll get in trouble if you tell anyone.”
“Just send the money and don’t ask questions.”
Those are warning signs.
A real family member won’t need you to secretly send money, gift card numbers, passwords or security codes.
Does Your Family Have a Secret Word?
The FBI recommends that families create a secret word or phrase they can use to help verify someone’s identity.
Your family’s word shouldn’t be something other people could easily discover online. Don’t use your school mascot, pet’s name, favorite team, birthday or address. And don’t post your safe word or send it around in texts.
Then practice what to do if someone can’t tell you the word.
Because here’s the strange new reality:
A voice can sound real and still be fake.
So when something doesn’t seem right, stop and check before money moves.
Activity: Spot the Red Flags
Imagine you get a call from someone who sounds exactly like a family member. They say there’s an emergency, they need money right away, and you can’t tell anyone.
Circle the three warning signs and then work in groups or on your own to identify the safest next steps.
- The voice sounds familiar
- They want money right away
- They tell you to keep it secret
- They create a sense of panic or urgency
- The call comes from a familiar number
