The Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) is warning residents of a family member kidnapping scam in which fraudsters impersonate loved ones in crisis, often using personal information or AI-generated voices to urgently request money.
These scams may involve fake kidnapping calls, emergency pleas for bail or medical help, and can include advanced technology such as voice synthesis and deepfake videos.
Per MCPD: “You get a call: “Grandma, I need money for bail.” Or maybe an email from someone claiming to be a relative or a friend who says they have been kidnapped. Or they are in trouble and need money for a medical bill or another emergency. The caller says it’s urgent — and tells you to keep it a secret. But is the caller really who you think it is? Scammers are good at pretending to be someone they’re not, using information from social networking sites to create a realistic scenario.
These impersonation scams encompass a range of deceptive practices that exploit the emotional ties within families, targeting individuals with fraudulent distress calls from supposed relatives. These scams often include variations like virtual kidnapping, grandparents’ scams, or grandkids’ scams. They typically involve a fraudster posing as a family member, friend, associate, or loved one facing an urgent but fabricated crisis.
Artificial intelligence (AI) enabled voice synthesis technology can be employed to mimic the voice of a specific family member. This makes the scam phone call sound more convincing, potentially fooling the target into believing they are genuinely speaking with their relative. AI-powered chatbots or automated text messaging systems can send convincing and urgent messages, providing a layer of automation to the scam. While not prevalent yet, deep-fake technology, which uses AI to create realistic fake videos, can fabricate scenarios involving a family member in distress. This could include video calls or messages designed to deceive the target.”
Additional information at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/pol/fraud/grandparents-scam.html
Be cautious of ransom demands claiming a loved one is in danger. Verify such claims with personal questions only they would know.
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— Montgomery County Department of Police (@mcpnews) May 23, 2025