Scammers used AI to clone Osceola County sheriff's captain's voice in fake arrest warrant and jury duty calls
Scammers used AI to clone the voice of Captain Steve Moser, a real Osceola County Sheriff's Office captain in Florida, and also used his photo to pass the calls off as his. The calls told people they had missed jury duty or had a warrant out for their arrest. The aim was to scare people into handing over personal information or money, sometimes demanded in cryptocurrency. Sheriff Chris Blackmon said the scammers cloned the captain's voice. The office estimates about 40 cases this year involving scammers impersonating law enforcement. The sheriff's office issued a warning on social media. It said it was not aware of anyone who had sent money to the scammers, and that identifying the callers is a long shot.
What the AI did
Scammers used AI to clone the voice of a real sheriff's captain, Steve Moser. They used the cloned voice in calls and voicemails telling people they had missed jury duty or had arrest warrants, and also used his photo to make the calls seem to come from him. It has not been reported which AI tool was used.
First reported October 19, 2026 · Added to the register October 31, 2026 · 2 sources
- Affected
- Captain Steve Moser, Osceola County Sheriff's Office, Residents told they missed jury duty or had warrants, Osceola County residents
- Country
- United States (Florida)
- When it happened
- Not stated in the sources
- First reported
- October 19, 2026
What this means for you
Could this affect you?
Residents of Osceola County, Florida, were targeted, and any organisation whose staff have public audio or video online could see those voices cloned to impersonate them in the same way.
What to check
- Tell staff and customers to verify callers demanding payment or data by calling back on an independently sourced official number.
- Treat caller ID, a familiar voice or a photo as no proof of identity.
- Never call back a number given in a voicemail to confirm who left it.
Areas of your AI programme this touches
Timeline
- October 19, 2026First reported
- October 19, 2026The sheriff's office said it is not aware of anyone who has sent money to the scammers. Investigators are continuing to look into the situation, though because of the technology the callers use, identifying them is a long shot.[2]
Every fact and its source (6)
- ResponseSheriff's office issued a social media warning“The sheriff’s office has also issued a warning on social media alerting residents to the scheme.”[1]
- Sheriff's confirmationSheriff said scammers cloned the captain's voice and used his picture“They cloned his voice and was using Steve”[1]
- Law enforcement impersonation cases this year (estimate)About 40“estimates about 40 cases this year involving scammers impersonating law enforcement”[1]
- Investigation statusIdentifying callers is a long shot“identifying the callers is a long shot”[2]
- Payment method demandedSometimes cryptocurrency“sometimes in the form of cryptocurrency”[2]
- Known lossesNo one known to have sent money“The department is not aware of anyone who has sent money to the scammers.”[2]
Sources
- Scammers use AI to clone Florida sheriff's captain's voice in fake arrest warrant callsclickorlando.com · October 19, 2026
- AI scammers clone deputies' voices to demand money from Osceola County residents, sheriff saysfox35orlando.com · October 20, 2026
How this record is classified. Severity M (2/5): harm to individuals, or a policy breach with limited reach. OECD level: incident, an event in which an AI system led to actual harm. Evidence: Confirmed, meaning a company, official or court statement.
The facts in At a glance and in Every fact and its source are quoted from the sources listed. The summary, What the AI did and What this means for you are written from those sources and checked against them automatically before publication. Records reflect what has been disclosed, not everything that has happened. Incidents are found through news feeds and the GDELT Project.
