ST. CHARLES—Multiple scams using artificial intelligence that trick victims into believing they’re talking with a loved one in distress have been reported to the Saint Charles City Police Department (SCPD).

“I mean, they can sound like your son, your family member, best friend, whoever,” said Raymond Floyd, captain over investigative services with SCPD.

Scammers do not have a difficult time taking a person’s voice from social media, said Floyd.

“The most recent one we had is someone posing that they had been in a motor vehicle accident with their daughter. The parents could hear what they believe to be their daughter in the background sounding like they were in distress. The individuals demanding indicated that he has drugs in the car. That the police aren't going to get involved and if they don't supply him money, then he's gonna do bad things to the daughter.”

After a wire transfer went through, the victim learned they’d been scammed and contacted SCPD.

“We were able to track that money and it wound up going to Mexico. Which obviously, dead ends for us. That case was passed on to Homeland Security.”

For agencies calling to collect, Floyd recommends hanging up, looking up that agency’s phone number and calling them to validate. For family members potentially in distress, he has another idea.

“What we encourage is for family members to get code words or code phrases. Something that only their actual loved one would know.”

Floyd added that people need to be diligent, even when panic rises because you believe you’re hearing your loved one.

“They just need to take a breath whenever someone's asking for money. You just need to be very conscientious and validate where that call (is coming from) or who that individual is.”