Ontario police warn of AI-powered grandparent scams mimicking family voices to steal money.

Police in Ontario warn of a rise in grandparent scams using AI voice cloning to mimic family members, creating urgent fake emergencies like arrests or accidents. In early January, two seniors were targeted, one nearly losing $20,000 before a friend stopped the transfer. Scammers use brief audio clips from social media to clone voices, pressuring victims to send money quickly via wire transfer or cryptocurrency, often demanding secrecy. Experts say AI has made these scams more realistic and widespread. Authorities urge seniors to verify urgent calls through independent contact and remain alert to red flags like sudden urgency and requests for secrecy.