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A nationwide scam involving extortion phone calls using AI-generated voices of peoples loved ones has made it to McMinnville.

Scammers are using artificial intelligence technology to send frightened, desperate messages that sound like the voice of loved ones. Last month, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a warning about the scams. It could be a child or grandchild saying they had a wreck or got arrested and need bail money. Other calls involve phony kidnappers spoofing the voices of their supposed victims. Warren County locals Olivia Hylton and her husband were targeted recently.

Last Friday, Hylton reported on social media how her husband received a terrifying call from a woman screaming about being in an accident. Suddenly a man's voice comes on the phone line saying It wasnt an accident, it was an incident. The voice on the line went on to say that he was a drug dealer and that if the husband tried to call his wife or didnt come up with $10,000 she would be dead.

Im very happy I was with my friend and my husband was able to get hold of her. Until the sheriff said it was a scam, we were scared for the girl on the phone, Olivia Hylton explained. Hylton and her husband reported the call to law enforcement and the Warren County Sheriffs Department informed them that these types of scam calls are actually very frequent.

A similar story, the case of Jennifer DeStefano, made national headlines earlier this month. DeStefano received a frightening call from what sounded like her daughter. The scammer on the line asked for a million dollars. When DeStefano explained there was no way she could raise that the amount was lowered to $50,000.

Dan Mayo, assistant special agent in charge of the Phoenix office, pointed out how scammers can sometimes get details regarding victims from public social media accounts and to keep an eye out for unfamiliar area codes or country codes. Databases of repeated previous commercial hacks are also a source of personal information which can include family members, employment and more. Many of these scammers had not only the number and name associated with it but information about family members or friends.

The FTC advises people to attempt to contact the person who supposedly contacted them to verify the story before ever sending any money. Always use a phone number you know is theirs. If you cant get in touch with them then reach out to other family members or friends. You may also prepare a code word to confirm identity in such a case.

Regardless of the nature or pretext of the scam, there are certain telltale signs that something may be awry. Scammers will almost always require payment through channels that make it difficult, or impossible, to get the money returned. Wire transfers, cryptocurrency and gift cards being required for payment may be a sign that the person requesting money is not above board.

The AI scam call is not the only one that has affected Warren County citizens recently. The McMinnville Police Department also warned locals of a series of scam calls affecting people in Warren County involving a person claiming to be with law enforcement and asking for money to take care of a warrant for failure to appear before the Grand Jury. The police department warns that they will never call and ask for money to clear up a warrant and if in doubt about such, call local law enforcement.

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Artificial intelligence scam calls received locally - Southern Standard