AI voice scam call in movie ‘Thelma’ is a growing threat [Video]

In the movie “Thelma,” 93-year-old Thelma Post receives a frantic call from what sounds like her grandson saying he’s in jail with a broken nose following an accident and needs $10,000.

Assuming the call is truly her grandson, Thelma, portrayed by June Squibb, follows the scammer’s instructions by fearfully gathering bunches of cash hidden around her home and sending it to a P.O. Box address. 

While this story was dramatized for Hollywood, the threat of such scam calls — also known as grandparents’ scams or family emergency scams — is genuine and getting easier in the age of artificial intelligence.

Total losses from imposter fraud last year reached nearly $2.7 billion, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. But there are ways to stay vigilant, financial experts say, such as freezing your credit or obtaining power of attorney for a vulnerable parent.

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