Telephone scams are constantly evolving. Criminals are no longer content with pretending to be foreign-accented bank employees. Today, they also target the strongest emotions – exploiting the fear for loved ones. The story of a woman who received a call from a supposed prosecutor is a tragic example of this.

When the woman answered the phone, she heard a firm, official voice on the receiver, who introduced himself as a prosecutor. The criminal, impersonating a prosecutor, delivered a shocking message: her son, Adam, was the perpetrator of a tragic road accident that resulted in a fatality. The attackers knew details that immediately lent credibility to the scenario – they provided the road number, and their tone suggested that the situation was irreversible. This was the result of solid reconnaissance. The scammers possessed key information: the names of family members, and even details about the car. Their goal was one: to put the mother in a state of shock and disorientation. In such a state, manipulating the victim becomes simple, and reason gives way to panic.

The scenario gained terrifying credibility when the alleged prosecutor handed the receiver to the son. At that moment, the mother heard the voice of her Adam – he was panicking and begging for money that was supposed to „settle” the case and avoid prison.

This moment is the quintessence of modern vishing. With the development of technology, especially Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, criminals can create an incredibly realistic voice recording of any person in a few seconds, based even on short samples found on the Internet (e.g., on social media platforms). The use of deepfake audio was a decisive factor here. The voice of her beloved child effectively subdued the mother’s vigilance, forcing her into almost immediate „cooperation” with the scammer.

Fortunately, in this story, the intervention of Adam’s sister prevented the extortion. The daughter accompanying her mother kept a cool head and – instead of succumbing to panic – made a verification call to the real Adam on his phone number. Adam answered. It turned out that he was safe, at work, and had no idea about any accident.

Source of the story (in Polish): https://sekurak.pl/oszustwo-przez-telefon-objasniamy-jak-dzialaja-przestepcy-na-podstawie-prawdziwego-incydentu/