What’s going on
A short clip, like a video posted online, can be enough to copy someone’s voice. A familiar voice, a sudden emergency, a demand for money and a plea to keep it secret don’t prove the call is real.
Video transcript
Mom, I need bail money. Please don’t tell anyone.
A familiar voice can be faked.
Hang up. Call them back. Use a number you already have.
If you already sent money
- Gift card: call the number on the back of the card right away and ask for a refund. Keep the card and the receipt.
- Wire transfer: call the wire company, like Western Union or MoneyGram, right away and ask for a refund.
- Payment app or bank transfer: report it to the app or your bank right away and ask them to reverse the payment.
Report it
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
- TechCrunch (ElevenLabs v4 release), Sep 28, 2026
- Federal Trade Commission, “Scammers use AI to enhance their family emergency schemes”, Mar 20, 2023
- Federal Trade Commission, “What To Do if You Were Scammed”
