The global cybersecurity landscape is facing more complex cybersecurity threats. This week, Trend Micro issued a warning that virtual kidnappings are increasing in frequency around the globe.
Virtual kidnappings occur when criminals create a convincing voice imitation of a child victim and use it to trick the child’s guardians or parents into believing the child has been abducted to demand a ransom.
According to the business, this pattern began to appear in the first half of 2023 as cybercriminals’ usage of AI improved.
Recent bad actors have taken advantage of AI technology to convincingly pass for actual individuals during attacks and con games. Virtual kidnappings can take the following shapes:
- The caller claims to have a loved one hostage and demands an immediate ransom for their safe return
- They claim to be from a hospital in their call. They claim that the tourist is hospitalized and needs immediate medical attention. For medical care, they demand upfront payment.
- The caller says they are with the law enforcement. They assert that the traveler has been detained or imprisoned. To free the passengers, they demand money to cover the fines.
According to Trend Micro, ChatGPT and other AI tools are enabling thieves to automate information gathering, target group construction, and vulnerable behavior identification.
Detecting the Scam
If you think someone using this scam has contacted you, be calm. To destabilize their victims and persuade them that the threat is real, the con artist uses fear and deception.
Try to contact your loved one as quickly as you can. You can do this through a phone call or by checking their location if they’ve shared it with you. You can also try to get in touch with someone who can certify the safety of your loved one.
Request a conversation with the person they claim to have abducted. Ask them a question that only your loved one would be able to answer if they pass you on to someone else or perhaps an AI bot. Some families devise code phrases that are only known to family members to safeguard themselves from scams like this one.
Request a description of your loved one’s look or attire from the claimed kidnapper (if you are aware of it).
Fraudulent schemes like virtual kidnapping are increasing. Take the following preventative measures:
- Keep your current location and travel schedule private online
- Aim to avoid publishing your phone number or voicemail online
- With their permission, reciprocally share your cell phone location with loved ones using Google Maps, iCloud, or another legitimate tracking service.
- Say nothing or as little as possible to spam callers so they can’t record a sample of your voice.
- Avoid sharing personal details with people you don’t know.
- If possible, make a mental picture of what loved ones are wearing when they leave the house
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