‘20 minutes of terror’: AI boosts US voice impersonation scams
AI technology is increasingly being used in voice impersonation scams, leading to significant financial losses for victims. Many individuals, including Liz Benz, have been deceived by convincing AI-generated calls that mimic the voices of loved ones in distress. The FBI reported that Americans lost over $893 million to such scams in 2025, highlighting the growing threat posed by these advanced technologies.
- ▪AI voice cloning tools are enabling cybercriminals to mimic loved ones convincingly.
- ▪Victims often receive emotionally charged calls claiming their family members are in danger and need money.
- ▪The FBI reported that Americans lost over $893 million to AI-enabled scams in 2025.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
‘20 minutes of terror’: AI boosts US voice impersonation scamsSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxAI technology has allowed cybercriminals to steal from people by mimicking loved ones with voice cloning tools.PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: UNSPLASHPublished Jun 03, 2026, 10:00 AMUpdated Jun 03, 2026, 10:00 AMWASHINGTON – Liz Benz still believes the distressed caller’s voice was her son’s – the tone, enunciation and cadence all matched her 16-year-old.But it was an AI clone, making the American mother yet another victim of a growing wave of impersonation scams.Rapidly evolving artificial intelligence technology has demolished the boundaries between reality and fiction, handing cybercriminals strikingly convincing voice cloning tools to steal from people by mimicking loved…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.