Beaumont TX family terrorised by AI voice clone fake hostage call using daughter Taylor Wingate's cloned voice sourced from social media

Summary

Leah and MJ Mott of Beaumont, Texas, received a call from a man claiming to have kidnapped their daughter Taylor Wingate. The caller used AI voice cloning technology — sourced from Taylor's social media — to simulate her voice saying 'Mom, come pick me up.' Leah Mott described the call as entirely convincing. Beaumont police quickly confirmed Taylor was safe out of state with friends. No money was paid. Taylor later said: 'It gets me angry to hear my mom get in that point of where she's scared and she's in fear that she'll never see me again.' Leah Mott said: 'Five thousand dollars is nothing for me to pay for my daughter — they play on those emotions of the love that you have for your family.' Beaumont police warned residents to establish a family safe word and limit personal information on social media.