relative or a next-door neighbor, and we are seeing this happening with alarming regularity.” The new technology enables criminals to collect voice samples from social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, which they subsequently utilize to create synthetic audio that closely mimics a target’s voice. Scammers have baited older


adults using AI-generated deepfakes of trusted celebrities. “Deepfake celebrity imposter


scams are among the fastest-growing scams out there, especially targeting seniors,” said Nofziger. “It will seem that a celebrity has


sent a DM (direct message), then promising that videos are on the way. When the videos arrive, they are personalized, saying, ‘Hey, this is me, I see you’ve been following me, and I appreciate the support, so I wanted to let you know about a great way to invest your money.’” “It’s heartbreaking,” Nofziger


added. “These scams exploit love and fear, and this new technology makes them nearly undetectable.” Perhaps the most alarming aspect


is the rise of AI-enabled sextortion schemes. Criminals exploit deepfake technology to create explicit images or videos of victims, often taken from innocent social media posts, to extort money or sexual favors. The FBI has warned that these


schemes are on the rise, aimed at both adults and children. The National Center for Missing


and Exploited Children reported receiving over 500,000 instances of sextortion scams aimed at minors in just the past year. According to the FBI, at least 20 young people have taken their own lives due to sextortion scams since 2021. In response, cities across the


nation are fighting fire with fire by deploying AI to outsmart tech- savvy criminals. The Los Angeles Police Department integrates data from


crime reports, social media, and public databases to predict crime hot spots and identify potential suspects using predictive policing algorithms. The Chicago Police Department anticipates crimes by blending arrest records, historical data, and live feeds from surveillance cameras and gunshot detection systems, achieving predictive accuracies of up to 90%. The New York City


Police Department uses the Domain Awareness System (DAS), an AI structure developed by Microsoft, to process real-time data from over 18,000 cameras, license plate readers, and ShotSpotter sensors to detect gunfire and suspicious activities, thus enabling swift responses. Many civil libertarians


‘Kidnapper’ Demanded Cash for Daughter


J


ennifer DeStefano was at her daughter Aubrey’s dance rehearsal when she answered


her cellphone. After hearing her other daughter Brianna sobbing in the background as the “kidnapper” demanded money, she put the phone on mute and screamed for help. That got the attention of nearby parents, who called 911. DeStefano negotiated with the caller until


police arrived. At first, they set the ransom at $1 million and then lowered it to $50,000, after DeStefano told them that amount was impossible. She asked for a routing number and wiring


instructions, but the man demanded cash instead. She said he told her that “if I didn’t have all the


money, then we were both going to be dead.” But another parent with her informed


worry about a broader issue: the unchecked expansion of technology without moral or legal safeguards. In Chicago, the Strategic Subject


List, which employs AI to assign risk scores based on arrest records and social connections, has faced criticism for disproportionately targeting Black and Latino communities. Similarly, facial recognition


tools like Clearview AI, utilized in both Chicago and New York City, have come under scrutiny due to alarmingly high false positive rates — up to 98% for people of color. State Sen. Jake Ashby, who advocates for stricter AI regulations, told Newsmax that a legislative balance must be established to protect individual rights while using


her police were aware of AI scams like these. With phone help from others at the rehearsal, DeStefano reached her husband and her daughter, who immediately confirmed that they were fine, and hung up. — M.L.


AI technology as a tool to enhance the lives of Americans. “I’ve helped pass bipartisan legislation regulating the use of AI because it’s important that technological advances work for us, not against us,” the New York Republican said. “New, increasingly sophisticated


frauds weaponizing AI which target seniors and other vulnerable people are a serious threat.” For Nofziger, who states


that the AARP has received an unprecedented number of calls related to scams, exceeding 100,000, the most effective protection is awareness.


AUGUST 2025 | NEWSMAX 11


© STEVE CRAFT


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