After a deepfake voice fooled her grandfather, this founder sprang into action

Tarini Padmanabhuni's grandfather was scammed by a deepfake voice, believing he was speaking to his kidnapped brother and paying a ransom. He later discovered his brother was safe, and the voice was an AI-generated imitation. This incident highlights a growing problem, as the FBI reported Americans lost nearly $900 million to AI-driven scams last year, a 24% increase from 2024, with individuals aged 60 and older losing twice as much as those aged 50 to 59.

This account highlights a personal deepfake scam, unlike many reports that focus solely on the broader financial impact or technological aspects of AI fraud.