FBI Warns of Rising 'Ghost Caller' Scam Targeting Seniors with AI-Generated Voices
- The FBI has issued an urgent alert for a new scam where cybercriminals use AI voice cloning to impersonate family members in distress, tricking victims into wiring money.
- Seniors are the primary target, as scammers harvest voicemail clips from social media to create hyper-realistic audio of loved ones pleading for bail or medical funds.
- The agency warns that these 'ghost caller' attacks have surged 400% in 2025, with average losses exceeding $10,000 per incident.
- To avoid becoming a victim, the FBI advises establishing a verbal 'safe word' with family and never sending funds without independently verifying the caller's location.
- If you suspect a scam, hang up immediately and report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) for investigation.