First AI voice cloning fraud reported in Indore:Play school head loses savings after fraudster mimics cousin’s voice in emergency scam call

A suspected first case of Artificial Intelligence–based voice cloning fraud has been reported in Madhya Pradesh after a play school head in Indore was allegedly duped of Rs 97,500 by cyber criminals impersonating her cousin, a Uttar Pradesh Police personnel. Familiar voice, urgent medical story The incident occurred on the night of January 6 when the woman received a call from an unknown number closely resembling her cousin’s phone number. The caller introduced himself as her cousin, who is associated with the UP Police emergency dial service, and spoke in a voice familiar enough to dispel suspicion. He told her that one of his close friends had been admitted to a prominent private hospital in Indore and urgently needed life-saving cardiac surgery. QR code payment trap The caller claimed he was unable to directly transfer money to the hospital and would instead credit the amount to her digital payment account. He then asked her to transfer the same sum to a doctor’s QR code he had already shared. One of the QR codes carried the name ‘Hema,’ which matched the name of a doctor working at the hospital mentioned by the caller, lending credibility to the request. Believing the money had been credited, the woman’s teenage daughter transferred Rs 97,500 in four UPI transactions. Fraud detected after the call The fraud came to light shortly after the call ended, when the woman checked her bank account and found that no money had been credited. The next day, her cousin denied having made any such call, and the phone number used by the caller was found to be switched off. The loss included the woman’s personal savings as well as funds meant for staff salaries and loan instalments related to her play school. Police probe and AI angle The matter was reported to police on January 7, following which a case was registered against unidentified accused under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 and the Information Technology Act. Additional DCP (Crime) Rajesh Dandotiya said: Preliminary investigation suggests the use of AI-driven voice modulation technology. Such frauds involve extensive profiling of potential victims, gathering voice samples of trusted contacts and using AI tools to convincingly replicate those voices. Possible earlier surveillance The victim’s husband also recalled that around three months ago, his wife had received a suspicious call from an unknown number enquiring about the play school before abruptly disconnecting, raising concerns that the family may have been under surveillance prior to the fraud. Police officials said this appears to be the first suspected case of AI voice cloning fraud reported in Indore and possibly in the state.