Grieving widows are increasingly becoming targets of sophisticated scams powered by artificial intelligence, which can mimic loved ones' voices and generate fabricated information to exploit emotional vulnerability. Scammers are leveraging AI to analyze obituaries and other public data, enabling them to craft highly personalized and convincing fraudulent schemes.
One common tactic involves spoofing the voice of a deceased person's child or another close relative, creating a sense of urgency or distress to solicit money. Patrick Coughlin, CEO of Savi Security, recounted an incident where his 74-year-old mother received a call that sounded like her daughter pleading for help, claiming the daughter had been kidnapped and demanding a ransom. Fortunately, his mother verified the story before sending money, but the incident highlights the alarming ease with which AI can be used to perpetrate such crimes.
AI allows scammers to not only clone voices but also to generate fake photos and videos, making their deception more potent. These scams often target older adults who may be experiencing financial dependence after the loss of a spouse. According to FBI data, individuals aged 60 and older filed over 200,000 cybercrime complaints in the past year, resulting in nearly $8 billion in losses, a figure that is reportedly on the rise.
Scammers also exploit obituaries for personal details, including the deceased's full name, age, hometown, relatives, and occupation. This information, combined with data from previous breaches, allows AI to construct detailed profiles of potential victims. "The cruellest target people who likely live alone and have access to savings, like an older adult who has just lost a spouse," Coughlin stated.
One widow shared her experience of being contacted on social media just 15 days after her husband's death by someone claiming to have also recently lost a son. The scammer sent a picture that the widow identified as AI-generated, which served as an early warning sign. Similar scams can extend to friends and distant relatives of the deceased. In one instance, a man named Ted encountered a fabricated obituary online that included bizarre details, such as the deceased having a fatal scooter accident, which he knew to be false. The obituary also incorrectly mentioned a brother for the deceased, another clear fabrication.
Alex Quilici, CEO of YouMail, a company that combats scam calls, noted that widows are particularly attractive targets due to their emotional vulnerability and potential reliance on their deceased spouse for financial matters. "Obituaries are public, that data can be combined with information from other data breaches. As a result, AI can build a full picture of one person – and create a more convincing script for their surviving loved ones," Quilici explained.
To protect against these AI-driven scams, experts advise ignoring requests for personal information, verifying any suspicious claims through independent channels, and monitoring credit reports for fraudulent activity. Freezing credit reports can also prevent identity theft. Quilici recommends assuming unsolicited calls are scams and to always find an alternative way to contact the purported sender, such as calling a bank using a number from its official website. Utilizing call-filtering tools can also reduce exposure to potential scams.
Special Agent Greg Nelsen of the FBI Cleveland division advises wariness of individuals who pressure for personal information, demand money or cryptocurrency, or issue threats of harm. Open communication between friends and family about these dangers is also encouraged as a protective measure.