AI Fake Kidnapping Scams Target Families, Police Urge Caution

Police in New Haven, Connecticut, have issued a warning to the local community about a scary new scam that uses artificial intelligence to fake kidnappings and force families to send money.

The New Haven Police Department said that the criminals usually pick up pictures and videos of people off social media, then use AI technologies to modify these photos and videos to look as if the person is, indeed, a kidnapping victim. The "kidnap" photos or videos are then sent to family members, together with extremely urgent messages that also demand payment.

Initially, the messages are believable, as the content of the messages sounds logical, and the conversation may be directed as if it were a professional or authoritative voice. The police department explains that one of the purposes of this artificial panic is for people not to find time to discover the truth behind the situation.

There has actually been no kidnapping at all. The fraudsters use the victim's fear and panic as a weapon to get them to hand over cash before they get to their relative or law enforcement.

Officers are urging anyone who receives a message along the same lines as this not to transfer any money. Instead, they suggest that you take your time, try to contact the person directly through another phone number or messaging app, and contact the police first.

A delay could be the one that saves you from getting scammed. Investigators fear that AI is helping to make these fraudulent attempts less noticeable. With the tools available these days, even small scam groups can produce highly believable images, videos, and messages that at the moment seem to be actually real, especially when the emotions of the victims are highly intense.

New Haven police have not disclosed the number of people who have been targeted, but they say similar virtual kidnapping scams are reported in different parts of the country. The increased use of AI is making these frauds both more realistic and more emotionally damaging.

At the same time, the police gave out very practical advice that families should follow: Maintain your composure, check the facts before doing anything, and never allow fear to force you into making a decision.

What at first seems to be an emergency may actually be a very well-planned scam designed to take advantage of your panic.