Residents in Osceola County, Florida, are being targeted by scammers using artificial intelligence to imitate the voice and image of a real sheriff’s captain, authorities have warned.
At least 40 people have reportedly received calls from someone claiming to be an Osceola County deputy. The caller alleges that the recipient has missed jury duty or has an outstanding arrest warrant before demanding money to avoid legal consequences.
Payments have sometimes been requested in cryptocurrency, according to Sheriff Chris Blackmon, who said the calls were designed to frighten people into handing over cash or personal information.
The scheme has used the identity of Captain Steve Moser. In one voicemail, the caller introduces himself as Moser and asks the recipient to contact the sheriff’s office.
Blackmon said the scammers had combined a cloned voice with Moser’s real photograph, making the message appear genuine.
“It’s his voice, his face. If you go look it up, you say, it could be him talking, but the entire thing’s AI,” he said.
Osceola County sheriff issues warning over AI scam
Blackmon said the sheriff’s office would never demand payment over the phone to settle a warrant or resolve a missed jury-duty summons.
“We will never ask you for your money, we’ll never ask you to move it to crypto for sure,” he said.
The department has not been made aware of anyone sending money to the callers, although investigators are continuing to examine the reports. Authorities said identifying those responsible could prove difficult because of the technology involved.
Anyone receiving such a call should hang up and contact the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office independently, using a number found on its official website rather than one supplied by the caller. The office’s non-emergency number is (407) 348-2222.
