“Really terrifying and realistic scam going around”

“Dear PoPville,

I want everyone to be aware of a really, really scary scam that’s going around that I fell victim to yesterday.

I got a call yesterday afternoon from my Dad (his caller ID and photo on my phone came up the same way it always does). When I answered I heard his voice and he was in distress and sounded like he was being beaten up.

Then a man came on the phone and told me “if you ever want to see your Dad again you’re going to do what I say. I’m going to blow his fucking brains out”. He told me he had a gun to his head. At this point I was terrified and thought my dad had been jumped by someone. I OF COURSE complied with everything they told me to do because I heard my Dads voice and it was coming from his cell phone and all I could picture was someone with a gun to his head. The man was very angry and mean and pushy and kept telling me to pay him money via Cash App or Zelle immediately. He was demanding $1000. I couldn’t think, I was shaking, I was so scared. I went in Zelle and paid the man as he gave me a phone number to send the money to. Every hesitation I had or pause he would scream and threaten my Dad.

I’m so lucky my boyfriend was with me because he first called 911 and then called called my brother who he knew was home (while I was still on the phone with these criminals) and was able to find out that my dad was home and safe and had his phone with him. I immediately hung up with the scammers, but the money was gone.

Turns out people can do these advanced scams where they call from a loved ones phone and can use something called “voice cloning” to use recordings of your loved ones voice to make them sound in distress or say certain things. I’m so glad my Dad was actually okay (I broke down in tears when I found out), but I lost a lot of money and it could have been a lot more. Anyone would do that for a loved one if they truly believed they were in immediate danger of being killed.

I want you all to be aware and if this terrible and scary thing happens to you please find a way to call the person who is calling you to see if they are okay and safe. I am trying to spread it to everyone I know because it was a terrible experience. And my bank won’t help me get the money back (that’s a whole other story). Please share this with anyone and everyone you know.”

From an email:

“I just wanted to suggest that the victim of that terrifying phone scam (and others who experience such crimes) report it to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and maybe let Senator Warren’s office know. She has been on top of issues with Zelle and scams. The elements of threatened violence and coercion an are especially disturbing in the post. 

Here’s a helpful article.”