# AI voice cloning scam tricks concerned mom into sending ₹12.5 lakh: What you must watch out for | Tech News (HT Tech)
> A woman lost $15,000 ( ₹12.5 lakh) after scammers used AI to clone her daughter’s voice, posing an emotional emergency. The case highlights growing AI scams and why families must verify urgent requests for money.
# AI voice cloning scam tricks concerned mom into sending ₹12.5 lakh: What you must watch out for
## A woman lost $15,000 ( ₹12.5 lakh) after scammers used AI to clone her daughter’s voice, posing an emotional emergency. The case highlights growing AI scams and why families must verify urgent requests for money.
Jul 28 2025, 07:26 IST
### By BHARAT SHARMA
A fresh kind of scam using artificial intelligence led a woman in Florida, Sharon Brightwell, to lose $15,000 (roughly ₹12.5 lakh). Before we read about this case in-depth, it’s a reminder of how technology is increasingly being misused with frauds that seem real, urging people everywhere to be cautious.
## When technology pretends to be real
On July 9, Sharon was called from a number that looked almost identical to her daughter’s, according to WFLA. The voice on the phone sounded like her daughter’s but tense and upset. Sharon was told her daughter had an accident, hitting a pregnant woman while distracted by texting. The caller said her daughter was being held.
Not long after, a man claiming to be a lawyer called Sharon. He demanded $15,000 (around ₹12.5 lakh) in bail money. Worried and wanting to help, Sharon took out the cash and gave it to the people as instructed.
Also read
click here.
Soon after, Sharon received another call. The story worsened, the pregnant woman was said to have lost her baby and her family was seeking ₹25 lakh more to avoid suing. By that time, Sharon’s grandson and a close family friend stepped in. Together, they called Sharon’s real daughter, who was safe and working. Sharon later described how shocked and relieved she felt on hearing her daughter’s true voice and realising how close she came to losing even more money.
## How the scam worked
The fraudsters used AI technology to clone the voice of Sharon’s daughter, April Monroe, with just a small clip of her original audio. April said the cloned voice sounded so alike it fooled her mother and others close to the family. She has since set up a fundraiser to support the family and raise awareness about these scams.
Police in Hillsborough County, Florida, confirmed an investigation is underway. They added that scams using AI voices are growing more complex and tougher to spot.
This kind of crime shows that scammers do not need to hack deeply into systems anymore; simply having clips of a person’s voice obtained from public videos or calls is enough to create believable scams. These schemes work by triggering fear and urgency, making victims act without thinking. Vulnerable groups, especially older people or those under stress remain at high risk.
## How to protect yourself against voice cloning scams
- Always check emergency calls by reaching out to your family member by a different phone number or app.
- Be cautious if you are pressured to send money immediately, even if the call sounds real.
- Use secret family codewords for emergencies so you can verify calls.
- Limit how much audio or video you share publicly on social media.
- Educate senior family members about new forms of online scams.
Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.
22 Jul, 16:45 IST
online scam
### Related Stories
29 Sept 2026
71,753,182,678,068
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS
## Tips & Tricks
### How to turn your photos into Ghibli-style art with ChatGPT for free: Step-by-step guide
### How to create an invitation using iPhone’s new Apple Invites app- Step-by-step guide
### Apple TV app arrives on Android phones and tablets: What you get and how to install it
### Vodafone Idea users can now stream 17 OTT apps with one subscription: Here's how
### How to transfer data from one Android to another using Google backup, USB-C cable, and more
## Editor’s Pick
### iPhone 16e launched in India: All details about the new budget mobile from Apple
### DeepSeek AI: How it works, who’s behind it, how it’s different from ChatGPT, and its big US market impact explained
### iPhone 17 Air likely to get this feature that iPhone 17 Pro models may miss out on
### Google Whisk AI explained: How remixing works, availability, and how it differs from Gemini
### iOS 18.4 beta arriving soon: Know why it is the biggest iPhone update
## Trending Stories
### Airtel 5G SIM card will now be delivered in 10 minutes with Blinkit- How to order
### Infinix Note 50s 5G+ set to launch in India with 64MP camera and MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC
### Xiaomi X Pro QLED Series sale starts in India: Check price, availability, and more
### Apple plans to train AI using your on-device data without accessing personal content or emails: Report
### CMF Buds 2 key features and price revealed ahead of April 28 launch: Details inside
keep up with tech
## Gaming
### Top 5 gaming monitors under ₹20000 you should consider
### Grab gaming consoles at discounted rates during Amazon Great Indian Festival: Up to 72% off
### Pokémon GO Wild Area 2025 to bring Grimmsnarl family, Shiny Hatenna, and global challenges
### Shade Silver free on Steam for a limited time: Here’s how to get it
### Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 skips Switch 2 at launch, release date and price leak
## Trending News
### Airtel 5G SIM card will now be delivered in 10 minutes with Blinkit- How to order
### Infinix Note 50s 5G+ set to launch in India with 64MP camera and MediaTek Dimensity 7300 SoC
### Xiaomi X Pro QLED Series sale starts in India: Check price, availability, and more
### Apple plans to train AI using your on-device data without accessing personal content or emails: Report
### CMF Buds 2 key features and price revealed ahead of April 28 launch: Details inside
## Trending Gadgets
Mobiles
Laptops
Tablets
- https://tech.hindustantimes.com/tech/news/ai-voice-cloning-scam-tricks-concerned-mom-into-sending-12-5-lakh-what-you-must-watch-out-for-71753182678068.html